Bruno M. Ponterio

Ridge Street School

Home of the Bluebirds

Weekly Highlights 10/27/25-10/31/25

Klezmer Assembly

As part of our Cultural Assembly Series, students enjoyed a lively and engaging Klezmer Assembly this week! The performance highlighted the vibrant sounds of Klezmer music and wove in elements of Jewish culture through a story about Sukkot. The musicians had students clapping along and learning about traditions in a fun, interactive way. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Blind Brook PTA for generously funding assemblies like this, which help bring diverse cultural experiences to our school community.

5th Annual Halloween Parade

The weather held up for the 5th Annual BMPRSS Halloween Parade! Our faculty and students had so much fun. It was wonderful to have family and members of the community on our parade route. We want to thank Mr. Dore for capturing the event. Please check out the video. We also have some great pictures. Please see below.

5th Grade Explores the Universe at the Hudson River Museum

Our 5th graders embarked on an exciting field trip to the Hudson River Museum, where they journeyed through the wonders of space! Students were captivated by a planetarium show that took them on a tour of the solar system—from the fiery surface of the Sun to the icy edges of Neptune. Afterward, they put their scientific skills to the test in a hands-on activity called “Planet Detective.” Using clues about each planet’s distance from the Sun, chemical makeup, and gravitational pull, students worked together to identify mystery planets. It was a day full of discovery, teamwork, and cosmic curiosity—a truly out-of-this-world experience!

Bluebirds Fly to the Rye Nature Center

The students in Ms. Mecca's second grade class visited the Rye Nature Center to learn about animal adaptations. The students were able to walk on the trail to observe nature. They also got to learn about special characteristics of some animals snd insects that help them survive in the wild.

Storyvoice Author Event for Second Graders

Today, Ms. Eckert (BMPRSS Young Engineers Teacher) and Ms. Zatarga (BMPRSS Librarian) hosted a Storyvoice Author Event through Scholastic, featuring author Rachel Michelle Wilson and her book To Catch a Ghost. Second graders had the option to attend this event as it was during their recess time (This was a livestream event and this was the only time it was offered.)

Second-grade students read the story and then put their creativity to work by designing and building their own Ghost Catchers—devices made from various materials to catch a little cotton-ball “ghost.” Before building, students sketched blueprints inspired by ideas from the book.

To Catch a Ghost tells the story of a determined student who plans to catch a ghost for show-and-tell, only to discover an unexpected friendship along the way.

Halloween Moon Phase

Our 5th graders wrapped up the week with an exciting and hands-on continuation of our moon phases lesson! Over the past few days, we’ve been learning how the moon appears to change shape in the sky as it orbits Earth. To bring this concept to life, students used Oreo cookies to model each of the eight moon phases, from new moon to full moon and everything in between.

They were so enthusiastic as they carefully scraped the icing to represent the illuminated portions of the moon, labeling and sequencing their cookie “moons” to show the lunar cycle. This activity helped students visualize the pattern of the moon’s changes and reinforced what we’ve been discussing in class about light, shadows, and Earth’s rotation. It was the perfect combination of science, creativity, and Halloween fun! The best part? Students got to enjoy their edible models as a well-earned sweet treat to celebrate their learning.

We also showed students how to track the current moon phase using the weather app and encouraged them to look up at the sky tonight while they’re out trick-or-treating to see which phase the moon is in. They were so excited to connect what we’ve been learning in science to what they can actually observe in the night sky!

Community Circle

Ms. McLynn, our BMPRSS Guidance Counselor, visited Kindergarten and First grade classes for Community Circle this week. The students listened to the book Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and reflected on how the characters were feeling. They then shared feelings that they want to have in the classroom and thought about what actions they can do to have those feelings. This work will become their classroom charter, a promise to make the classroom a positive learning environment. The students then got to design a broom with room for all of their friends and families. Here are just a few examples!

Second Graders Make Thundercake!

As part of Mrs. Krouskoff and Mrs. Bigler's second grade class Personal Narrative Unit of Study, they read the book Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco. The book is about a young girl who overcomes her fear of thunderstorms by baking a special "thunder cake" with her grandmother. They decided to bake the cake as a class. They all enjoyed baking and eating the cake while we listened to sounds of thunder.

Greenhouse Pea Planting

Due to the success of last year’s Greenhouse Snap Pea Project, we are excited to announce that we will be repeating the project this fall with our third graders!! The main objective of the project is to explore whether the loss of daylight during the fall season affects the growth, flowering and production of snap peas.

Throughout this hands-on investigation, all classes will:

Discuss what is essential to the growth of a plant, ( soil, sun, air and water)
Plant Snap Pea seeds in the greenhouse the last week of October
Have access to and observe November-December sunrise/sunset chart
Receive a worksheet to guide student’s questions and reflections about the project
Brainstorm and predict possible challenges and creative solutions
Visit the greenhouse several times to observe the plant growth process and record data
Make final observations and conclusions addressing the projects main question

This project continues to connect science and inquiry based learning in a meaningful and seasonal way. It encourages observation, critical thinking and curiosity about our natural world and food resources.

We want to thank Mrs. Aquino's help as we bring these projects to our students!

Blind Brook PTA Halloween Fun Across K–5!

This week, all of our K–5 students got into the Halloween spirit by creating their very own Monster Masks during class—thanks to the Blind Brook PTA sponsorship! Many proudly wore their spooky creations to the Trunk or Treat event on Wednesday, Oct 29, where they visited the amazing trunk designed by BBMS students and received candy from our BBHS student volunteers.

A huge thank you to all families for your continued support in making this special K–12 collaboration such a fun and memorable experience for our kids!

2025-2026 PTA Reflections Contest

The PTA Reflections contest is back!! This year's theme is "I Belong." To belong is to be a part of group, team or community, and your inclusion in that group can be documented by membership and rosters. But in a broader sense, to belong means your place in a certain community is valued, respected and secure

What is the Reflections program?
The PTA Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. Students are encouraged to unleash their inner artist by submitting work in one of the following categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography or Visual Arts.

Who can apply?
Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade can apply.

How do I find out more?
Visit the Blind Brook PTA website to learn more about prizes, scholarships and National PTA Reflections awards. You will also find a link to the National PTA page with the official rules.
PTA Reflections Program Information 2025-2026

When are submissions due?
Submissions are due Monday, November 10th.

How can I apply?

Step 1-Fill Out PTA Reflections Entry Form: 2025-2026 Reflections Entry Form
Step 2-Upload 2025-2026 Reflections Entry Form PDF - to google doc: Reflections Google Doc Link

What if I have Questions?

Reach out to Leah Mittelman at BBPTAReflections@gmail.com with any questions.

Community Activities and Programs - Voluntary

Rye Brook Cub Scouts Pack 3 Food Drive - November 8-15

BMPRSS Main Office - Contact Info

If you need to reach anyone in the BMPRSS Main Office, please make sure you use our Main Office email address and Main Office phone extension:

- - - Email - ridgestreetmainoffice@blindbrook.org
    - Phone - 914-937-3600 x2199

Reporting Absences

If your child will be absent please remember to email all three:

BMPRSS Nurse's Office - rssnurse@blindbrook.org
BMPRSS Attendance Office - rssattendance@blindbrook.org
Your child's teacher

Health Office - Contact Info

Our school nurses are responsible for all matters relating to individual student health issues, including verifying medical excuses, monitoring individual student health matters, emergency intervention, and special programs related to student health.

The BMPRSS Nurse is the main point of contact for:

Parents to inform the school of children's absences
Assessing and caring for infirm children during the school day
Contacting parents to report children's illnesses and injuries
Maintaining and dispensing children's medications
Ensuring that food brought into the classroom (i.e., for parties) is nut-free

We are very happy to have three nurses at our school - Nurse Frannie, Nurse Tara, and Nurse Erica. Please use our Health Office email to contact them about any medical questions! If you need to contact the BMPRSS Health Office PLEASE email rssnurse@blindbrook.org so that ALL of our BMPRSS receive important information.

If your child has severe allergies, or a newly diagnosed medical condition, and you have NOT notified the school at this time, please email rssnurse@blindbrook.org ASAP!

BMPRSS Health Office Email Address: rssnurse@blindbrook.org

BMPRSS Health Office Phone Number: 914-937-3600 x2217

November Lunch Menu

Please click here for the November Lunch Menu!

NutriKids/MySchoolBucks - NutriKids is the system that our cafeteria uses to manage student food purchases. Parents may view what their children purchase in the cafeteria as well as add money to their student's lunch account through My School Bucks. A quick reference guide containing directions on setting up your account can be found at this link. Please note that there is a service charge for putting money on a student's account electronically.

Don't forget! All payment for lunch is through your My School Bucks account. Please click here to set up your My School Bucks account for your child/children! Please see the IMPORTANT NOTE BELOW about our school lunch program.

Important Notes About 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.

Transportation Information

If your child is eligible for our bus service, you will receive information 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. By now, all NBS families should have received information in the mail. If not, please contact the BMPRSS Main Office for your NBS bus info.

We are a "Nut Aware" School and Allergy Aware School!

Dear BMPRSS Families:

The Blind Brook School District has established a Health and Wellness Policy committed to providing a school environment that promotes and protects children's health, well-being, and the ability to learn by fostering healthy eating habits and physical activity.

As a school community, we are committed to the health and safety of our students. We are writing to alert you that some of our students have a type of food allergy that can be particularly serious and, in some cases, life threatening. If the child comes in contact with the offending food (whether airborne, ingested or physical contact) there may be an anaphylactic reaction resulting in the inability to breathe. For this reason, we have a “nut aware” environment at the Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School. Our food service vendor does not sell peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or use peanut oil or any tree nut products in the preparation of the food sold in our cafeteria. Our faculty and staff are trained and take great measures to ensure the safety of our children.

In addition, there are things that you and your children can do to help keep these specific children safe. In particular, please do not send food to school that “contain peanuts or tree nuts”, “may contain nuts”, “are made in a factory that processes peanuts”, or “are made in a facility that makes or processes tree nuts”. If your child eats peanut butter or any product containing tree nuts for breakfast, please have your child wash his/her hands and mouth thoroughly and brush their teeth after eating. This will help avoid contact with any peanut or tree nut residue, which can cause a potentially fatal reaction for a child with a peanut/tree nut allergy. Children who happen to bring a food item to school for lunch, and this item contains or may contain peanuts/tree nuts, will sit at a specifically designated peanut/tree nut table during their lunch period, and they are allowed to ask one friend (who is not allergic to peanuts/tree nuts) to sit with them. Please pack a wipe packet and stress to your children that they must wash their hands after eating their food containing peanuts/tree nuts. (Please note that hand sanitizer is available to all children. We also have a handwashing station in our Cafetorium.)

We are asking you to scrutinize labels and if there is ANY sign of peanuts/tree nuts, please do not bring the food items to the classroom. Our classrooms remain peanut/tree nut free. Any food item that is brought in must contain a label. We recognize that some of our children may have allergies to foods other than peanuts/tree nuts. Our BMPRSS nurses will send out specific information to those classes and grade levels so that everyone is mindful of any allergens. As such, we do NOT condone the sharing of food during lunch time or in the classroom.

For your convenience, we have attached a list of healthy food guidelines and suggestions. If you are sending in a food item not listed in these guidelines, you MUST send in the label. We have taken these measures to protect all of our students. We understand that this may be an inconvenience for many of you, but exposure can be life threatening to some. If you have any questions, you may contact the BMPRSS Health Office at ANY time: 914-937-3600 x2217 or via email rssnurse@blindbrook.org

Thank you for helping keep our children safe!

Tracy Taylor, Principal
Dr. Teresa Letizia, Assistant Principal
BMPRSS Health Office - rssnurse@blindbrook.org

Visitor Information

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 an ORANGE VISITOR LANYARD 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 without a valid Photo ID and a scheduled meeting.

Disruptive Devices and Items

(This includes reference to the NYS Distraction-Free School Law)

At BMPRSS, we strive to create a learning environment where all of our bluebirds can engage fully with the world around them—learning, connecting, and growing together each day. To support a distraction-free environment, we are reminding families of our long-standing expectations around personal devices and disruptive items.

In alignment with New York State’s Distraction-Free Schools Law (NY Education Law § 2803), "Students cannot use devices like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches (or any device accessing the internet) on school grounds from the start of the school day until the end, including all instructional and non-instructional time." This applies even if the internet or WiFi is turned off. These items must remain off and out of sight during school hours.

As outlined in our BMPRSS Family Guidebook, the following items have always been considered disruptive and should not be brought to school or on school grounds unless authorized by a member of the school staff or administration:

Smartwatches (including those that send/receive messages or connect to the internet)
Phones, tablets, iPods/iPads, hand-held video games
Toys or collectibles, such as Pokémon cards, trading cards, Silly Banz, etc.
Any item that resembles a weapon of any kind
Clickers or noise-making devices

Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Any item that disrupts the learning environment or poses a safety concern will not be allowed in school.

We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a focused and safe learning environment for all our bluebirds!

School Safety Drills

BMPRSS will begin to conduct all of our required fire drills and lockdown drills starting in September for the 2025-2026 school year. Families are required to receive notification of drills prior to the scheduled drills. If you have any questions about these drills, please contact Dr. Letizia - tletizia@blindbrook.org

Mental Health Resources in the Bluebird Nest

Click HERE to go to our BMPRSS Mental Health Resources page.

Updating Emergency Contact Information

As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety, we are strongly encouraging all families to review and update their emergency contact information in eSchoolData. In the event of an emergency where we are unable to reach a parent or guardian, having accurate and comprehensive contact details is essential.

We kindly ask that you include anyone you trust who might serve as an emergency contact, such as a babysitter, family friend, or relative. Updating this information now ensures that we are prepared in case unforeseen circumstances require us to reach out to someone other than parents.

For your convenience, here is the information we have been sharing in the Weekly Highlights:

Log onto the eSchoolData Parent Portal and click on the name of your BMPRSS child.
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.

Thank you for taking the time to keep this critical information up to date. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thanks,

BMPRSS Administration, Faculty, and Staff

Rye Brook Recreation After School Program

Registration for the 2025-26 RYE BROOK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM is now open!

We offer many different options. Below are our monthly fees:

2 days per week: $295

3 days per week: $400

4 days per week: $495

5 days per week: $575

Have a fun & safe rest of the summer. We look forward to providing your child/children with After School care for the upcoming school year.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Rocky Furano at rfurano@ryebrookny.gov or 914-438-2087.

Rye Brook Recreation Staff

P.S. If you are thinking about sending your child in September, please see click here for the Health and Registration Form that will need to be submitted, along with your child's immunization report, before the start of the program. Email forms to Rocky Furano at rfurano@ryebrookny.gov.

Rye Brook Recreation Activities

FROM RYE BROOK RECREATION

The Village of Rye Brook is offering some new pickleball programs for the Fall. We are offering pickleball for kids and adults from 8 years old to 99, on Saturday mornings at Rye Hills Park. We also have lowered our prices for the programs so it's very affordable to learn or brush up on your pickleball skills. Some of our programs will be at our new 3-court pickleball courts at Garibaldi Park.

See you on the courts!

Rye Brook Recreation

Click here for the Rye Brook Parks and Recreation Department Brochure

Blind Brook District Technology Resources for Families and Students

Please check out this link below for any tech resources that you need!

https://sites.google.com/blindbrook.org/technologyresourcesforparents/home

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. Katie Gambino - kgambino@blindbrook.org

Mrs. Jen Vazquez - jvazquez@blindbrook.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 3

Parent-Teacher Conference Pick-A-Time Link opens at 5:00 pm for all K-4 Families

Please refer to the email that was sent to families with regards to signing up for a Parent-Teacher Conference.

The Pick-a-Time sign-up link was sent to all families and will be active on Monday, November 3rd at 5:00 pm.

If you have a 5th grader, please refer to the email sent to families regarding 5th Grade Parent-Teacher Conferences.

November 4

Blind Brook Board of Education Meeting

BBMSHS IMC

7:30 pm

November 11

Veteran's Day

School is closed in observance of Veteran's Day

November 12

Parent-Teacher Conference Pick-A-Time Link closes at 10:00 am for all K-4 Families

Please refer to the email that was sent to families with regards to signing up for a Parent-Teacher Conference.

If you need to schedule or reschedule a Parent-Teacher Conference, please contact the BMPRSS Main Office.

November 20

Half Day of School - All BMPRSS students are dismissed at 11:30 am

November 20

BMPRSS Parent-Teacher Conferences

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

By appointment only

November 26

Early Dismissal for all BMPRSS students at 1:30 p.m.

November 27-November 28

Thanksgiving Break

No School - No Students

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