Bruno M. Ponterio

Ridge Street School

Home of the Bluebirds

School will be closed on Monday, October 12th for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day

Weekly Highlights 10/5-10/9

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH - September 15-October 15

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. During this month, we celebrate the cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing special book and song recommendations for you to enjoy. We will even share some recipes as food is all about community and happens to also be muy deliciosa!

Merengue!

Merengue is one of the happiest parts of Dominican culture, and it's impossible to hear it without wanting to MOVE! The music is fast, joyful, and made for dancing. Merengue bands play a drum called a tambora and a scraper called a güira, along with an accordion and a saxophone.

Right now, a favorite merengue in our 3rd grade is "Kulikitaka" by Toño Rosario. And here's a fun secret: "Kulikitaka" doesn't mean anything at all! It's just a silly word that's fun to say, and it fits perfectly with a great beat. Sometimes a song doesn't need a meaning to make everybody want to DANCE!

Tito Puente!

Tito Puente was born in Spanish Harlem in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, he became known as ‘El Rey de los Timbales,’ the King of the Timbales. He recorded more than 100 albums, won multiple Grammy Awards. Tito Puente helped bring Latin jazz and salsa to audiences all over the globe.

To enjoy Tito Puente's music (and a dosage of Sesame Street!), you can view the video above!

Apple Cider is in the Air for Kindergarten!

An amazing time was had by all at our first "Field Trip" of the Year! New Canaan Nature Center visited the Kindergarten classes on Wednesday. We learned all about apples; from seed to pollination to flower to apple! Then we each had a turn cranking the apple press (called a "Hopper" ) and Voila, we made a pitcher of our own apple cider. It was delicious!

Paper Towers

In this lesson, Paper Towers, students in Mrs. Krouskoff's second grade class examined how large structures like houses are built from smaller pieces.They designed their own structures using an unconventional building material: paper! Students built towers using 3" x 5" index cards and paper clips. First, they built tall towers, then they were challenged to build towers strong enough to support a hardcover book.

PICTURE DAY - October 14th and 15th

We want our bluebirds to be ready to smile and say "CHEESE" for the camera! it's Picture Day on October 14th and 15th. Please see the schedule below:

Collaborative RACES in 4th Grade!

Students in Mrs. Pedersen’s fourth grade classroom recently participated in a collaborative writing relay using the RACES strategy. Working together, students shared their ideas, searched for strong evidence, and crafted thoughtful reading responses as a team. The activity gave students an opportunity to learn from one another and see how different ideas can strengthen their writing. During reflection, one student shared, “Usually I like working on my own, but this was nice to be able to share my ideas with my classmates before writing.”

Learning, Building, and Working Together!

Young Engineers is off to a fantastic start this school year! Students in grades 1–5 have been tackling a variety of challenges while developing teamwork, perseverance, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Even our youngest engineers in kindergarten are learning the importance of working together, becoming familiar with the materials, and exploring the exciting world of building and engineering. We are off to a great start as our young engineers learn that sometimes the best solutions come from working together, trying again, and learning from our mistakes!

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade Young Engineers

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Young Engineers

Ms. Taylor visits classes for Read alouds!

Principal Taylor loved getting into classrooms this week to read with our Bluebirds! We read The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz and had some great conversations about being ourselves, finding what makes us special, and noticing the little things that bring us joy.

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 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

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

NBS (Non-Bus Eligible) Information: If you're found NOT to be eligible for the District's bus transportation you are considered a non-bus student (NBS) will will receive an NBS tag to display on your vehicle's rearview mirror. Please contact Mr. Juan Zhindon (Head of Transportation) via email: jzhindon@blindbrook.org if you have any information about being non-bus eligible.

NBS tags have been sent by mail and NBS families should have received NBS tags in the mail. Please contact the Main Office - ridgestreetmainoffice@blindbrook.org - if you do not receive your NBS tags!

Traffic Safety Letter

Please make sure that you have read our Traffic Safety Letter which was sent via email a few weeks ago. This email correspondence also includes the Arrival and Dismissal maps.

Please be mindful of the following changes, especially the NEW changes:

NEW FOR THE 2026-2027 School Year:

During dismissal, traffic can become congested in both directions on Ridge Street. Our goal is to keep traffic moving as efficiently as possible while ensuring the safety of our students, families, staff, pedestrians, and drivers, as well as maintaining a clear path for emergency vehicles to pass by and/or access our campus. To help improve traffic flow and safety, the following procedures will be in effect during dismissal from 2:00–3:30 p.m.:

Right turns only when entering campus from Ridge Street between 2:00–3:30 p.m.
No left turns from Ridge Street onto campus or into any campus parking lot between 2:00–3:30 p.m.
No left turns from campus onto Ridge Street between 2:00–3:30 p.m.; vehicles must turn right when exiting campus.

Blind Brook PTA News

Your Weekly PTA Roundup - October 5, 2026

COMMUNITY WIDE

FALL FEST ADVANCE TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY!

Join us Saturday, October 17 from 1-4 PM at BMP RSS for one of our biggest events of the year!

Discount tickets go on sale TODAY, Monday, October 5 at 9 AM.

Discount ticket sales end Friday, October 16. Tickets will be available the day of the event at full price.

PURCHASE DISCOUNT TICKETS

A huge thank you to our businesses, community supporters, and volunteers for helping make Fall Fest possible. We can’t wait to see you there!

Questions? Contact the ACE Team at bbptaace@gmail.com.

FALL FAMILY MINI PHOTOSHOOT - Grab Your Spot Before It's Gone!

Our Fall Mini Shoot is almost full! Grab one of the last remaining spots for sweet, cozy family photos just in time for the holidays. Don’t wait, these spots will go fast! SIGN UP HERE

Questions? Contact the ACE Team at bbptaace@gmail.com.

BMP RIDGE STREET SCHOOL

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING PARENT WORKSHOP | TOMORROW, OCTOBER 6

Reminder: This is a virtual event for parents in grades K-5. If you’ve already registered, you should have received the Zoom link by now.

Questions? Contact Marni & Sarah at BBPTAPSLiaison@gmail.com.

SCHOOL PHOTOS | OCTOBER 14 & 15 (GRADES K–5)

Your child’s teacher will let you know which day your child will be photographed. A few weeks after Photo Day, families will receive a code to view and order photos online.

Questions? Contact Jodi Vickers at jovick@me.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

PTA HAS A CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BB PTA calendar is part of the district’s online calendar. All announced PTA events, programs, meetings, and important dates can be found by visiting the DISTRICT CALENDAR.

VISIT THE PTA CALENDAR PAGE FOR SOME HOW-TO TIPS
WATCH THE QUICK HOW-TO VIDEO FOR CALENDAR SUBSCRIPTION

STAY CONNECTED WITH US ON SOCIAL

Following us is great. Interacting with us is even better! Likes, comments, shares, and saves help Instagram and Facebook know you actually want to see our updates, making it more likely PTA news will show up in your feed.

Important links are available in our bio.
Missed a Story? Check out our Instagram Highlights for Events, Fundraising, Membership, Volunteer opportunities, and more!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who came out for our first PTA Meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 30! We hope you found the meeting informative and helpful in staying connected to what’s happening across our schools and PTA.

Have questions, feedback, or something you'd like us to cover at a future meeting? Contact Mary at BBPTACS@gmail.com.

Bookmark Blind Brook PTA Website. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Want to PARP with us?

Blind Brook PTA Fundraiser

FALL FEST IS ALMOST HERE — GET YOUR DISCOUNTED TICKETS TODAY!

Saturday, October 17 | 1:00–4:00 PM | Ridge Street School

Get ready for Blind Brook's BIGGEST community celebration of the year! Join us for an unforgettable afternoon packed with inflatables, games, live entertainment, delicious food, exciting prizes, and nonstop fun for the whole family!

Buy your discounted tickets today! Advance tickets are available through Friday, October 16. Don't wait — prices go up at the door! Link here: https://app.givebacks.gives/1fccf3/Event/Details

ONLINE SILENT AUCTION — OPENS MONDAY, OCTOBER 12!

Get ready to bid on incredible prizes, unforgettable experiences, exclusive school opportunities, and amazing local favorites! Our fully online silent auction features exciting items you can browse and bid on from anywhere!

OVER $20,000 IN PRIZES AND EXPERIENCES!

FALL FEST RAFFLES — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17!

Feeling lucky? Even more fantastic prizes will be up for grabs at Fall Fest! Raffle tickets will be sold exclusively at the event, so don't miss your chance to enter and win!

One incredible community. One unforgettable afternoon. All for our schools!

Get your tickets, get ready to bid, and we'll see you at Fall Fest!

Sharing is Scaring!

Blind Brook PTA Afterschool Program - YAS (Your After School) Program Registration

Registration is open as of Wednesday, August 26 at 7pm

YAS offers elementary Bluebirds a fun, safe way to spend their after-school hours — with a rotating lineup of clubs, sports, arts, and enrichment activities led by experienced instructors.

👉 View the class schedule and register here: Your After School - Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street

Rye Brook Recreation After School Program Registration

Registration for the 2026-27 RYE BROOK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM is 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.

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.

Support Our Schools

Looking for an easy way to support our schools?

Box Tops. Download the Box Tops app, create an account and scan your receipts. For all items associated with Box Tops, we receive a $0.10 donation. And if you find any Box Tops on products, you can still clip and submit them.

Thank you for supporting our schools!

For questions or more information on Box Tops, please contact the Blind Brook PTA - bbptapresidents@gmail.com