Bruno M. Ponterio
Ridge Street School
Home of the Bluebirds
Weekly Highlights 1/6/25 - 1/10/25
Bluebirds Take a Trip to the Hudson River Museum
This week fifth graders visited the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY. Students engaged in a hands on "Planet Detectives" investigation where they collected and analyzed data to determine which planet was hidden in the box. They also got to visit the planetarium and learn about the Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars and their roles in space. All of this was in preparation for their upcoming unit in Science!
Kindergarten Bluebirds Get a Visit from HighTouch High Tech
High Touch High Tech came by the bluebird nest visited all of our Kindergarten classrooms this week to talk about forces of motion. This correlates with our Science 21 Unit. The children did various experiments and activities that talked about push, pull, gravity, magnets and force.
Second Grade Bluebirds Pick-A-Project
Teo F. from Mrs. Krouskoff's and Mrs. Bigler's class completed a Design A Zoo project. He researched 10 zoo animals. He had to figure out the special needs of each animal, along with the habitats they live in. Finally, he designed a zoo with animal exhibit areas, walkways, restrooms, concession stands and gift shops.
Brady M. and Brooke K. from Mrs. Krouskoff's and Mrs. Bigler's second grade class have been working on a State Symbol Research Project. First step was to research our state symbols such as the state flower, tree or bird. Second, they created a poster of all the state symbols they could find. Third, they drew pictures of the symbols and labeled them. Finally, they wrote an addition or subtraction story about the symbols. They used their iPads and worked together!
Fourth Graders Learn About Volcanoes
In this lesson, students from Mrs. Bal's fourth grade class explore the past and present pattern of where volcanoes exist on the earth. In the Mystery Science activity, Mapping Volcanoes, students plot volcano locations on a world map and look for patterns. Students analyze these maps to discover that volcanoes form a “Ring of Fire” around the Pacific Ocean.
Fifth Graders Welcome Special Visitors
Mrs. Fernandez and Mrs. Fava’s 5th grade classes were fortunate to have a visit from Anthony and Elba Samela, parents of fifth grader Natalia, in honor of National Law Enforcement Recognition Day.
Mr. Samela has been helping keep people safe for over 31 years! He started as a police officer in Port Chester, then worked as a U.S. Federal Air Marshal. After that, he became a special agent and investigator with the U.S. Customs Service and Homeland Security. Now, he helps the community as a Criminal Investigator for the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.
Mr. Samela taught the class the role and importance of Law Enforcement and how it relates to what they have learned about the 3 branches of government.
Thanks to the Samela family for taking time out of their day to spend with us!
January Bluebird Parent Chat - January 16th
Please use the RSVP link below the flyer so that we have an accurate count of attendees.
Message from Pupil Personnel Services
"Warm Up With A Book" Reading Challenge
As the weather starts to get colder, what better way to get warm than to cozy up with a book!
Ms. Taylor and Mrs. Letizia have officially announced their "Warm up with a Book" Reading Challenge! Every student received their reading challenge grid on December 6th. Once a bluebird completes the whole grid and hands it into the Main Office, he/she will get a reading award and prize! This can be completed through the winter months!
Click here to check out our Bluebirds who completed their Reading Challenges!
Blake L.
Voluntary Food Drive - BBMS Students
A few Blind Brook Middle School students from Mr. Soto's Start Up Studio class has put together a Food Drive (as part of their class coursework) to collect canned food to donate to Feeding America. Their group is called "Feeding Families." Their goal is to reach 250 cans by January 17th. Please see the flyer below!
This is a voluntary event for a good case so please feel free to donate any canned food during the week of January 13-17. There is a box in the BMPRSS Bluebird Hallway where cans can be placed.
If we are able to reach the goal, we will have a schoolwide Pajama Day!
Lost and Found - Donations are Coming...
We have many unclaimed items in our Lost and Found, many of which do not have names. These items have been on display for some time, and we’d like to give them a final opportunity to be returned to their owners.
Please be aware that any unclaimed items will be donated to a local shelter or organization after January 10th. Items such as jackets, coats, sweaters, and sweatshirts will be greatly appreciated by those in need.
Thank you for checking the Lost and Found before the deadline!
Mental Health Resources in the Bluebird Nest
As the new school year begins, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the challenges that can come with transitioning from the relaxed pace of summer to the structured routine of school. This shift can be difficult for students as they adjust to early mornings, homework, and the social dynamics of the classroom. After a summer of more freedom, the sudden change in schedule can be overwhelming for children. It's common for them to feel anxious, tired, or even resistant to the idea of going back to school. These feelings are completely normal, and with the right support, most students will adjust smoothly within a few weeks.
Click HERE to go to our BMPRSS Mental Health Resources page.
Young Engineers Donation Items
We would appreciate if you would look in your house for the items listed below as we would greatly appreciate using them in our Young Engineers’ (STEAM) Program. Please make sure what is sent in is clean.
Please drop off all items at our school!
If you have any questions about donations, please email our Young Engineers teacher, Ms. Rosen - mrosen@blindbrook.org
Paper towel cardboard tubes
Toilet paper cardboard tubes
Clips from can tops - beverage cans, cat food and dog food cans, etc.
Game pieces from incomplete games
Decks of cards that aren’t complete
Old craft/bead kits
Bottle caps of any kind (plastic and/or metal) - please rinse out
Clean cups from laundry detergent
Empty tape spools - both plastic and cardboard
Empty thread spools
Egg cartons - paper or styrofoam
Corks from wine bottles
Pieces of styrofoam - large and small
It's Time for Lunch!
Lunch served at our schools this year will be provided by Aramark. Below is a link to the menus.
All payments for lunch is through My School Bucks. Cash is not accepted as payment.
Click here to set-up a My School Bucks account.
For questions in regards to lunch please reach out to our food service provider Aramark at aramark@blindbrook.org
Important Notes Concerning our School Lunch Program
The Blind Brook-Rye School District utilizes an independent 3rd party, My School Bucks, to process charges and payments to individual student accounts. The parent/guardian sets up this account and decides which options they want to utilize including automatic payment and low balance notices. We do not have access to this information due to privacy concerns and to safeguard personal financial information. If you believe there is an issue with your My School Bucks account, we suggest you contact the company directly. We are unable to intervene on your behalf.
Once this account is set up, you can view your child’s purchases and balances. If you have specific questions concerning individual items purchased, please contact our food service company here. If you wish to restrict your child’s purchases to only meals or only one additional item per day, you can contact our food service management company and they will note that in your child’s account.
If a student’s balance becomes negative and exceeds $50, the student will no longer be allowed to charge supplemental meal items such as snacks, second servings of meal components or additional drinks. However, the Blind Brook-Rye School District will still allow the purchase and charging of a lunch. Please log into your "My School Bucks" account and check if there is any balance remaining on the account.
If any family is experiencing financial difficulties, please contact our guidance department. They will be able to provide resources and contact information. All personal information provided is strictly confidential.
SEID Webinars
SEID (Supporting Every Individual Difference) Leadership partners with Westchester Independent Living and Putnam Independent Living to put together some wonderful webinars. They are at no cost and are very informative! These are the dates that have been scheduled, along with the subject of the webinar.
February 3 - School Avoidance & Anxiety (See below for more information)
March 12 - Understanding Difficult Behaviors in Young Children
Blind Brook PTA - Indoor Recess Wish List
Let's stock the classes for indoor recess!
The PTA is excited to share that we've set up an Indoor Recess Amazon Wishlist to help support our teachers and their classrooms. The lists include items the teachers have selected for their individual class. Every contribution big or small makes a difference in providing fun and engaging resources for the students.
You can browse the list each teacher has requested using these links:
When you are making your purchase, please write the teacher's name in the gift note (it will be shipped directly to RSS). If a teacher is not listed it means they did not request any items.
Please reach out to Ann Sedrish, RSS liaison at bbptarssliaison@gmail.com with any questions.
Thank you for supporting our schools!
Blind Brook PTA - Magic Nights
Step Into the Mystery of Magic. Are You Ready?
Get ready for an enchanting experience this January, when there will truly be magic in the air with our latest programming offering. We’re thrilled to welcome Magic Dave for an interactive and captivating magic show that promises fun for all ages!
Magic Dave’s performance is more than just a show—it’s an opportunity for kids to join in on the magic, sparking creativity, confidence, and a sense of wonder.
Event Details
🗓️ Show #1 (Grade K-2):
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 at 5:15 – 6:15 pm
🗓️ Show #2 (Grade 3-5):
Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 at 6:00 – 7:00 pm
📍 BMPRSS Cafetorium
💲 $20 per student (Drop-off event)
📌Registration started on Wednesday, December 18th at 12 Noon — spaces are limited, and this is an event you won’t want to miss! Register via Community Pass to secure your spot: https://register.communitypass.net/ryebrook
Brought to you by Blind Brook PTA — Creating moments that matter!
Questions? Email Mary and Pamela at BBPTAProgramming@gmail.com
Blind Brook PTA Fun-Night Series Planning Committee 2024/2025
Help us create unforgettable memories—join our PTA Fun-Night Series Planning Committee! (2024/2025)
The idea of Fun-Night is aimed at fostering community spirit and providing fun-filled programs/events for families and students in Blind Brook District. Committee members will collaborate with the Blind Brook PTA Programming Co-Chairs to enhance community connections in Rye Brook by generating ideas and managing logistics for all Fun-Night programs, which can be themed around National Days or Cultural/Heritage Days.
Please sign up using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/KfS2SjKKDPnNCHqU8
***Why Join Us?***
Being part of the Fun-Night Planning Committee is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents, contribute to our school community, and help create lasting memories for families and students!
Look out for more opportunities to get involved with the PTA throughout the year!
Questions? Contact Mary Barbagli or Pamela Huang at BBPTAProgramming@gmail.com
Rye Brook Recreation After School Program Registration
Registration for Rye Brook Recreation's After School Program is going on now.
The Rye Brook Recreation Department coordinates an after school program that is held at the Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School each day of the school year. If you are interested in having your child in their after school program, please register through Rye Brook Recreation. Registration is done online.
Please click HERE to register your child for the Rye Brook Recreation After School Program for the 2024-2025 school year.
If you have any questions, please contact the Rye Brook Recreation at https://ryebrookny.gov/activities-programs/ or call 914-939-3235.
Disruptive Devices and Items
While our bluebirds are in school they will be focusing on what is all around them, and should not be distracted by disruptive devices or items. Our BMPRSS Family Guidebooks have always contained a section dedicated to disruptive devices and items. Please be mindful of the following - which has been in place - and will continue to be in place:
DISRUPTIVE DEVICES/ITEMS
Any equipment/item that interferes with the educational environment is not permitted in the school building or on the school grounds at any time.
The following items are specifically not permitted:
Skateboards
Rollerblades
Rollers on shoes
Hand-held video games
Smartwatches (i.e.: Watch that receives messages, can communicate outside of school, etc.)
Clickers (This was just added to the list!)
Personal iPod/ iTouch/iPad etc.
Any item (toys, etc.) that resembles a weapon of any kind
Toys and collectibles (Baseball cards, Football cards, Silly Banz, trading cards, Pokeman cards, any popular/trendy item, etc.) - These items should be left at home and are especially not to be brought to school unless authorized by a member of the BMPRSS administration, faculty, or staff. Trading of these items is also not permitted.
NOTE: This list is not exclusive and any other item that is unsafe or disruptive to the educational process will be prohibited. Students bring personal possessions, inclusive of Nooks, Kindles, and personal iPads, to school at their own risk. NOTE about Nooks, Kindles, personal iPads: Students must have prior permission from an administrator or faculty member. Students bringing these items in do so at their own risk. As our students all have iPads in our school, there is no reason for a student to bring in his/her own personal iPad.
CAMERAS AND RECORDING DEVICES
Cameras and recording devices may be used in class only with prior approval of the teacher. We understand that there are a lot of phones and devices that have the capability to take photos or videos. Students are not permitted to take photos or videos of other students in school, are not permitted to record anything in the classroom, on school property, or on the school bus. If a student is witnessed doing this, the device may be confiscated.
Transportation Information
If your child is eligible for our bus service, you will receive information in August on the Parent Portal of your child's bus number and bus time pick-up and drop-off. If you have any questions about bus transportation, bus stops, or pick-up/drop-off times, please reach out to Mr. Juan Zhindon (Head of Transportation) via email: jzhindon@blindbrook.org
If you're found NOT to be eligible for the District's bus transportation you are considered a non-bus student (NBS) will receive an NBS tag to display on your vehicle's rearview mirror. Information has been sent to families.
Visitors - Photo ID Required
In our effort to maintain a safe and secure environment, all school visitors must enter through the school’s main entrance, provide a valid photo ID, sign in at the security desk, and wear a VISITOR sticker while they are in the building. If you have a meeting with a teacher, staff member, or administrator, please enter through the Main Entrance as the security monitor will have a list of scheduled meetings.
Visitors will not be allowed in the building unless there is a scheduled meeting.
Verify Your Contact Information on the Parent Portal
Please verify your contact and emergency contact information on the Parent Portal!
Log onto the eSchool Parent Portal and click on the name of your BMPRSS child. Should you have any difficulty logging on, please contact Mr. Charles Von Hollen (cvonhollen@blindbrook.org).
Click the “Contact Verification” button below your child’s photo.
In the Guardian Information section:
Ensure that each guardian is assigned a contact priority number. Priority numbers must begin at 1 and cannot be used more than once.
Ensure that all listed phone numbers are accurate.
Ensure that guardian email addresses are correct.
In the Emergency Contact Information section:
Ensure the name and contact information for any adult (over the age of 18) who will be permitted to sign your child out in the case of an emergency.
Blind Brook District Technology Resources for Families and Students
Please check out this link below for any tech resources that you need!
Also, please do not hesitate to contact our Technology Department if you need any assistance at ANY time:
Mr. Charles Von Hollen - cvonhollen@blindbrook.org
Mrs. Jen Vazquez - jvazquez@blindbrook.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 16
Blind Brook PTA Meeting
BMPRSS Cafetorium
9:00 am
January 16 - NOTE DATE CHANGE
Bluebird Parent Chat - NYS Grades 3-5 Testing
Please see the flyer in Weekly Highlights and don't forget to RSVP if you are attending!
BMPRSS Cafetorium
6:30 pm
January 20
Martin Luther King Day - No School
School is closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
January 22
Blind Brook Board of Education Meeting
BBMS/BBHS Library
7:30 pm
January 29
Lunar New Year - No School
School is closed in observance of Lunar New Year.
February 5
District Professional Development Day - 1:30 pm Dismissal
All K-5 students are dismissed at 1:30 pm.
Lunch will be served on this day, but the children will have an abbreviated daily schedule.
February 7
BMPRSS 1st Semester Report Cards
Report Cards will be posted on the Parent Portal at 3:10 pm.
February 11
Blind Brook Board of Education Meeting
BBMS/BBHS Library
7:30 pm
February 12
Bluebird Parent Chat
BMPRSS Cafetorium
6:30 pm
February 17 - 21
Winter Recess - No School
February 24
School Resumes