Bruno M. Ponterio

Ridge Street School

Home of the Bluebirds

NOTE: School will be closed on Monday, October 13th, in observance of Columbus Day.

Weekly Highlights 10/6/25-10/10/25

Hispanic Heritage Month

We are excited to begin celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15th to October 15th. This special month is a time to recognize and honor the history, culture, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities across the United States and around the world.

Throughout the next few weeks, we will learn about inspiring leaders, listen to music, explore art and literature, and celebrate the languages and traditions that make our community so wonderfully diverse.

We invite all of our students, staff, and families to join in the celebration—whether it’s by reading a book by a Latino author, enjoying a new food, sharing family stories, or simply learning something new together.

Let’s use this month as an opportunity to learn, celebrate, and honor the many cultures that help make our school and community stronger.

¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana!

Natalia Sylvester

Did you know that author Natalia Sylvester was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to the United States when she was four? Her picture book, A Maleta Full of Treasures, tells the story of a girl named Dulce who can’t wait for her Abuela to visit from Peru. Abuela’s maletas (suitcases) are full of treats, gifts, and memories from home. Through the story, Dulce learns that love and family can travel any distance—and that our culture is one of our greatest treasures.

For a read aloud of A Maleta Full of Treasures, you can view the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC0k3eKiiAs

Matt de la Peña

Matt de la Peña is a Mexican American children’s book author who writes stories that celebrate family, dreams, and everyday magic! He won the Newbery Medal for Last Stop on Market Street, and he also wrote Carmela Full of Wishes — a beautiful story about a young girl who makes a special birthday wish while walking through her neighborhood. His books remind us to find hope and beauty in the world around us!

For a read aloud of Carmela Full of Wishes, you can view the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUTsIe7s2eI&t=64s

Nathalie Alonso

Today we’re learning about ropa vieja, one of Cuba’s most famous dishes. The name ropa vieja means “old clothes” in Spanish, because the shredded beef and colorful peppers look like pieces of torn clothing — but don’t worry, it’s actually a tasty and popular meal enjoyed all across Latin America!

Cuban-American author, Nathalie Alonso, was inspired by this dish when she wrote her picture book Old Clothes for Dinner?! In the story, a young girl learns about her Cuban heritage and discovers the special meaning behind her family’s traditional foods. It’s a fun reminder that food can tell stories about who we are and where we come from.

For a book trailer of Nathalie Alonso's book, you can view the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBkhJiO7VOA

Kindergarten and 1st Graders Begin Mindfulness

Our youngest bluebirds have started to kick off their mindfulness journey with our Physical Education and Mindfulness Teacher, Mrs. Venuto!

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment with kindness, curiosity, and without judgment. It helps us become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and actions so we can respond thoughtfully rather than react automatically.

We talked about the difference between being mindful—focused on what is happening right now—and having a mind full, when we are distracted by many thoughts or worries.

We explored several calming strategies your child can use any time they need to feel more grounded or focused. These included:

Belly Breathing – placing hands on the belly and noticing it rise and fall
Candle Breathing – pretending to blow out a candle slowly
Finger Breathing – tracing each finger while breathing in and out
Trace Breathing – using a finger to trace a shape (like a rainbow or star) while matching it to breath
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding – using the five senses to notice things around us:
5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell,
1 thing you can taste.

These tools help children learn how to calm their bodies, focus their minds, and build emotional awareness. We also encourage you to practice these mindfulness tools using your mindfulness poster especially when your child is already feeling calm and regulated. Practicing while calm helps build muscle memory—so when your child is feeling frustrated, sad, or overwhelmed, their brain and body are already familiar with these strategies and more ready to use them. (This poster has been sent home this week for Kindergarten families, but will be sent home NEXT week for 1st grade families.)

Thank you for your partnership in helping your child build these valuable life skills. I look forward to continuing our mindfulness journey throughout the school year!

In mid-November, Mindfulness will start a rotation with our older bluebirds in grades 2-5! We look forward to starting those lessons soon!

Mindfully,

Mrs. Venuto

Fire Prevention Week

Since it is Fire Prevention Week, Mrs. Tagliaferri's class is learning about what firefighters do in our community. Not only do they put out fires, but they help to keep us safe and save lives. The students were surprised to hear about all of the gear that firefighters wear and how quickly they put it on. The first graders made helmets to wear, read Scholastic News and practiced Stop, Drop and Roll.

Diwali

Kiana's mom and Rhea's mom came in to teach Mrs. G. Fisher's Kindergarten class all about Diwali! The moms read a story and the moral of the story was about good things winning over bad things, and people having fun and being happy together, celebrating. The students also learned about Rangoli, the beautiful design with flowers. They decorated a "diya" which is made of clay and holds a candle. Happy Diwali!

Columbus Day!

During Social Studies, Mrs. G Fisher's Kindergarten class learned about Christopher Columbus, an explorer, who discovered the New World. We made replicas of his 3 ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. They even sang a fun song about Columbus to celebrate!

5th Grader Town Hall - Leading with CHIRP

Our 5th graders took part in a special Town Hall with Ms. Taylor and Dr. Letizia focused on being positive role models through our CHIRP values—Caring, Helpful, Inclusive, Respectful, and Positive. Students worked in groups to solve real-life “CHIRP in Action” challenges from the bus to the playground and reflected on what true leadership looks like. Each student will be making a personal CHIRP pledge, which will be displayed on our 5th Grade CHIRP Wall of Leaders as a reminder of their commitment to our school community.

4th Graders Visit Bartow-Pell Museum

Our fourth graders recently took an enriching field trip to the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in Pelham, New York, where they stepped back in time to explore the lives of the Lenape people—the Native American tribe who once inhabited this very region. The students learned how the Lenape lived in harmony with nature, building wigwams and longhouses from local materials and using the land’s natural resources for food, tools, and art.

Throughout the day, students engaged in a variety of hands-on activities that brought history to life. They created corn husk dolls and musical instruments from natural materials, learning how creativity and resourcefulness shaped Lenape culture. The children also examined the significance of wampum—beautifully crafted beads that held deep meaning in communication, storytelling, and the making of treaties.

One of the highlights of the visit was an interactive role-play, where students acted out a negotiation between the Lenape people and English settlers. Through this activity, they gained insight into the complexities of early cultural exchange and the importance of respect and understanding in building relationships.

The trip provided a memorable and meaningful connection to New York’s Native American history—one that our students will carry with them as they continue their studies.

Storytime with Ms. Taylor

Spooktacular Pumpkin Characters in our Library

Blind Brook PTA SEID & BLIND BROOK Pupil Personnel Services

Meet and Greet with Pupil Services

Ms. Alex Lafontaine-Casabona, Mrs. Jen Castelli and Ms. Danielle Brudner

Join us for a meet and greet with members of the Pupil Personnel Services Department - Alex Lafontaine-Casabona (Director), Jen Castelli (Assistant Director) and Danielle Brudner (CSE Chair) on Thursday, October 16th at 6:30 PM, BBMS/HS Library.

Light Refreshments will be served. Submit any questions in advance on this form: QUESTION FORM

Sponsored by SEID (Supporting Every Individual Difference) and Blind Brook PTA.

Reach out to Sarah Bailey and Marni Ford at bbptapsliaison@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

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.

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

October Lunch Menu

Please click here for the October 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

Blind Brook PTA Membership Drive

The strength of our schools starts with the parent community and our PTA Membership Drive is open!

The strength of our schools starts with the parent community and our PTA Membership Drive is open! We are aiming for 100% participation this year from families & staff, and have migrated to an eCommerce platform to make it easier than ever.

Membership is annual, and every year counts. You can purchase your family standard membership HERE

Annual dues are $30 per family and $25 for Blind Brook teachers & staff.

You can also purchase a printed Dial-A-Friend directory HERE

All members get exclusive access to the online student directory via SchoolBee. As a reminder, after class placements are announced, SchoolBee is unavailable as we update the backend. We appreciate your patience.

Your membership funds school & community-wide events, improvements in buildings, teacher appreciation, SchoolBee, ASA / half-day programs, spirit wear, fun activities & much more!

Thank you for joining us - it truly does make a difference for our kids!

Questions? Reach out to your Membership Co-Chairs, Lindsay Noymer & Rachel Boyman, at BBPTAmembers@gmail.com.

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.

Community Activities and Programs - Voluntary

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

Please mark your calendars for some fun and engaging Rye Brook Village events coming up in the next month...

Oct. 11th, 9:00am-12:00noon: "Rye Brook Pumpkin Patch" This fun and popular event will again be held at Pine Ridge Park and will feature a "pumpkin patch" for residents to select and purchase their own pumpkin right here in Rye Brook while supplies last! Prices are $8 for a small, $10 for a medium, and $12 for a large pumpkin. Free games & activities will be on-site, and a limited supply of apple cider donuts will also be available for purchase.
Oct. 11th, 10:00 to 12:00noon: "Seed Swap" at the Port Chester-Rye Brook Public Library. The Rye Brook and Port Chester Sustainability Committee members will be hosting a Seed Swap of native seeds to plant at your home and to answer any of your questions about gardening.
Oct. 18th, 9:00am to 12:00noon: "Annual Community Clean-up" on Bowman Avenue. Please help Rye Brook stay beautiful by volunteering to help clean up the trash along Bowman Avenue as part of this Rye Brook and Rye Town sustainability initiative. The village closes the street to traffic during this time period so it is a safe activity and great way to earn community service hours. To register, please click here.
Oct. 25th, 10:30am to 12:00noon: "Howl-o-ween" at Pine Ridge Park: Bring your dogs in costume for this very popular, free program co-sponsored by the Humane Society of Westchester. Activities include a parade in the park, face-painting, a self-station, and prized for the top 3 costumes. The Humane Society will also have pets up for adoption.
Oct. 29th, 6:00pm-7:00pm: "Trunk and Treat" in Pine Ridge Park: Come come dressed in costume and join the fun at our 3rd Trunk and Treat event. Village staff and other community non-profits will have their decorated vehicles in the parking lot in Pine Ridge Park and hand out treats to those that visit us. We will also ask for your votes for the best decorated vehicles for bragging rights at our village offices.
And... yes, the outrageous "Pumpkin Smash" will be back again by popular demand on the morning of November 8th!