Bruno M. Ponterio

Ridge Street School

Home of the Bluebirds

Weekly Highlights 9/29/25 - 10/3/25

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!

Panama

¡Vámonos a Panamá!

In Panama, the "Bridge of the Americas", is so big it lets ships sail underneath on the Panama Canal, and you can even drive across it to go from North America to South America! Panama is also home to baseball legend Mariano Rivera, who played for the New York Yankees and was known as “the closer” because he was one of the best pitchers at finishing games.

To learn more about Panama, you can view the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiunVn-arCk

Meg Medina

Meg Medina is a Cuban American author and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. She’s known for books like Merci Suárez Changes Gears, which won the Newbery Medal, and Mango, Abuela, and Me, a Pura Belpré Honor book. Through her stories, she celebrates family, identity, and the immigrant experience.

For a read aloud of Meg Medina's Mango, Abuela, and Me, you can view the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYje_jnox5E

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera is a famous fashion designer from Venezuela. She is known for creating beautiful and elegant clothes worn by celebrities, First Ladies, and even royalty! Carolina lives by the motto "alegría de vivir," which means "the joy of living." During Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate her for sharing Latino creativity with the world through fashion.

For some interesting facts on Venezuela, you can view the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ODk50Ijo8

Apple Cidering in the Bluebird Nest

The New Canaan Nature Center visited our Kindergarten classes to share a hands-on lesson about how apples grow. Students learned about the important role bees and other pollinators play in turning apple blossoms into apples. The visit ended with a special treat as everyone enjoyed freshly pressed apple cider!

Mystery Science

In this Mystery Science lesson, our second graders explored the different properties of materials used for clothing, such as texture, flexibility, and absorbency. In the “Mad Hatter” activity, students applied what they learned to design and build their own creative hats with one important purpose—protection from the sun!

Figurative Language Comes Alive with Technology

In 4th grade, figurative language is an important part of the curriculum. Students in Mrs. DeLuca and Mrs. Litchfield’s class learn how authors use tools like similes, metaphors, and idioms to make writing more vivid and engaging. Mrs. Gambino, our technology facilitator, showed the class how to use the Keynote app to bring their original sentences to life. Students explored a variety of skills, including animating, rotating, and layering pictures, as well as using drawing tools and text creatively.

4th Graders Visit Bartow-Pell Museum

BMP Ridge Street School's fourth grade bluebirds are learning more about Native American culture in history at Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum. Through touch-tours, open-ended inquiry challenges, craft projects, and interactive games, Bartow Pell’s curriculum-rich sessions build critical thinking and evidential reasoning skills that benefit students across disciplines.

Their authentically fabricated Northeast Woodlands wigwam serves as the backdrop for this interactive school program on Lenape culture and lifestyle. It is where history meets social anthropology, earth science, and biodiversity, as well as environmental stewardship. In this outdoor classroom space, children sit on stumps from felled trees and learn about shelter, clothing, food, language, and more. They also handle artifacts from the museum’s teaching collection, search for animal tracks, and make a Lenape craft.

Some classes went on the trip this week while some will head there next week! Here are few photos!

Storytime with Ms. Taylor

Greenhouse Pumpkins and Milkweed in Full Bloom

This week many 5th graders joined Mrs. Aquino in our courtyard and garden to cut a pumpkin off the vine. These pumpkins were started from seed at the end of last year and we have a bumper crop! There are still more to pick once they have fully matured!

The final planting of last year’s Milkweed project was completed this week in what appears to be the Monarch’s favorite flower bed in our Bluebird courtyard.

More Monarch butterflies were sighted this year than ever before! Mrs. Fagan’s class released our very first Monarch which students got to observe from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly!

Bluebirds Making a Difference

Sabhyas S. and Mehraj S. decided to turn their love of reading into action. This summer, they organized a book drive to collect gently used books for Book Fairies, a Long Island nonprofit that shares books with children in need. Their goal was 500 books — but thanks to incredible support from our school community and neighbors, they collected over 1,000 books! Mehraj explains, “Books teach empathy. As I outgrow books, I want to reuse them so other kids can enjoy them.” Sabhyas was inspired after reading a New York Times article about declining reading skills for students during the pandemic. He wanted to help ensure more children have access to books. With the help of many generous Bluebird families in June, the boys sorted, organized, and prepared the books for donation. Patty Bertoline, Logistics Director at Book Fairies, shared: “We are so grateful to the children and families of Rye Brook for donating more than 1,000 books. Their generosity will spark a lifelong love of reading.” Sabhyas and Mehraj hope to continue their mission with future book drives. They have shown us all that one small idea can make a big difference.

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. 8th at 5:30pm: *NEW* "Rye Brook Culinary Experience" The first in a series of adult-only classes to learn more about cooking and baking in a fun and supportive environment. The first class in a series will feature "Apple Pie Baking" and you will leave with your own assembled and unbaked apple pie (we provide all ingredients). This class will be held in the kitchen area at the AJP Community Center, 32 Garibaldi Place. Pre-registration is required as space is limited for this hands-on experience. Please click here for more information.
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!