Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District is pleased to announce that John DeKams is the new principal at Floral Park-Bellerose School.
DeKams, a resident of Smithtown, officially joined the district on July 1. Previously, he served as an assistant principal at Hillside Elementary School in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, since 2017. Through this role, he supervised all support staff, including teacher assistants, teacher aides and lunch monitors; provided instructional support to teachers in grades K-4 for various curriculums, including the school’s balanced literacy program, Eureka/Engage math modules and Fundations; and initiated and implemented the school’s first PBIS program, including assembling a team of staff members that met monthly to analyze behavioral data, developing schoolwide behavioral expectations and participating in various professional development opportunities to enhance the overall capacity of the group. His prior experience also includes roles as an assistant principal at Myers Corners Elementary School and as a sixth grade science teacher within the Autism Spectrum Disorders Nest Program at P.S./M.S. 206.
DeKams holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the State University of New York at New Paltz, a Master of Science in Special Education from Long Island University and a Certification in School Building Leadership and School District Leadership from the College of Saint Rose.
Floral Park-Bellerose School’s Student Council members hosted a breakfast for essential workers in the community on June 11.
On the front lawn of the school, the Student Council set up a large table with a display of bagels, donuts, sandwiches and juices. They also decorated paper takeaway bags with messages of thanks to the frontline workers.
The Student Council raised funds for the breakfast by hosting a Hearts 2 Help schoolwide event, which invited students to decorate the school’s sidewalk with chalk hearts. Approximately $1,100 was raised, and the Student Council members wanted to use the funds to give back to the local community.
Any extra breakfasts were handed out to school staff and local community members.
Floral Park-Bellerose School students in grades K-3 participated in some friendly competition at the school’s outdoor Jr. Olympics on May 26.
Donned in matching classroom attire, the students joined on the field for a variety of relay races. The activities included races with fitness balls, balancing a beanbag on a foam paddle, finding a marble in a bucket of sand, pouring water from one cup to the next without spilling and more.
Principal Jamie Adams and Assistant Principal Dominique Siebert cheered on the students. Parents were also invited to attend and watch their children participate.
During Model UN on June 8, Floral Park-Belleorse School students interviewed Luis Isava, the special assistant to the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. They prepared some questions for him in advance based on research that they had done during their sessions. Ms. Matusewicz and Ms. Patwell sent over the questions to Mr. Isava in advance so he could develop age-appropriate responses. His responses were insightful and the students really learned a lot. Students from John Lewis Childs School’s Model UN club also joined in on the Zoom.
Floral Park-Bellerose School students recently released their butterflies outside!
Class 2B enjoyed a walk around our beautiful neighborhood!
In honor of Earth Day, class 6C researched and presented projects on endangered animals.
Fourth graders celebrated “Poem in Your Pocket Day” and wrote their own poems!
Floral Park-Bellerose School first graders enjoyed the beautiful weather as they took their classroom lessons outdoors!
Second graders said, "It is good to be a kid. We made it to the playground!"
Floral Park-Bellerose School fourth graders Nora and Christina were recognized as winners of the Junior Women’s Club of Bellerose Writing Contest. Nora’s poem and Christina’s story will move onto the next level of the competition, sponsored by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Students used a color tile to create an inch ruler and then measured some of their school supplies
Floral Park-Bellerose School first graders in Andrew Branca’s class discussed the importance of inclusion, equity and diversity after reading their grade’s book of the month, “Strictly No Elephants.”
For the in-class activity, the students were asked to enter themselves into the story and depict how they would react when the two main characters are left out. The goal of the lesson was to inspire the students to stand up for others.
Students have been enjoying the springlike weather on the play structure!
Class 5E shared their cell model projects today! They used 21st century skills to innovate 3D models of plant and animal cells, in addition to presenting a verbal report on their projects.
Class 4F is being creative! Students made models of the five simple machines they learned about: levers, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, and wheel/axles.
Floral Park-Bellerose School celebrated Kindness Week, from Feb. 8-12, with a variety of activities to spread positive messages throughout the school community. The Operation Respect Club helped to come up with the ideas for the spirit days during the week, including Bee Kind Day, Sports Day, Rainbow Day and Cool to Be Kind Day and Spread Love Day.
Today for Fun Friday, Ms. Gargano's class wrote sight words at their desks with shaving cream! The students LOVED it, and it was great sensory integration.
Floral Park-Bellerose School second graders in Melissa Soldati’s class recently participated in an election.
After reading the books “Duck for President” and “Grace for President,” the students chose their favorite candidate and designed campaign posters that were presented to their classmates. The students registered to vote, received a voter registration card and cast their ballots in a mock polling booth. The votes were counted, and Grace won the election.
Second graders in Mr. Washousky’s class recently wrote business letters. Each student chose where to send their letters. Ziyad wrote to a gaming app and hit the jackpot with all the cool things they sent him!
A remote kindergarten class from Floral Park-Bellerose School read “Farfallina and Marcel” this past week about a gosling and a caterpillar. The children learned about how characters change and talked about the setting of the story. To complete the week, they made their own scene with the characters.
John Lewis Childs School fifth graders recently studied elements, compounds and molecules as part of the Inspire Science Curriculum with teachers Marianna Antonakis and Patricia Olson.
As a culminating project, students were asked to create a Google Slide about an element of their choice and a model of a compound, which would then be presented to the class. Students created models of water, salt and carbon dioxide, among others.
The assignment focused on the “elaborate” portion of the 5E model of Science Inquiry: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate.
A remote kindergarten class recently made valentines for residents in local nursing homes!
For PARP, Class 2C read “Snowmen at Night” and made snowmen out of marshmallows. They then wrote about what the snowmen do at night, just like in the book.
Floral Park-Bellerose School first graders in Megan White’s class recently created Valentine’s Day cards for Cards for Hospitalized Kids. The charitable organization delivers handmade cards to children in hospitals across the United States.
This week, Pre-K students at Floral Park-Bellerose School made snow using baking soda and conditioner. It was a great sensory activity to go with our winter theme for PARP: Arctic Adventure, Snow Much to Read.
Pre-K students at Floral Park-Bellerose School painted a winter-inspired scene on their easels in class.
Floral Park-Bellerose School students from pre-K to sixth grade have been bringing in gifts for the annual toy drive for the Hance Family Foundation, held from Nov. 30-Dec. 17. The foundation will distribute the toys to children in need around Nassau County on behalf of the students.
Fourth graders at Floral Park-Bellerose School played dreidel to celebrate the start of Chanukah!
Second and fourth grade buddies in Mrs. Engelmann’s and Mrs. Leary’s classes met virtually on Nov. 25. Mrs. Leary read “The Night Before Thanksgiving,” and then the students drew a turkey.
Class 4F is completing a social studies unit about the Native Americans tribes of North America. Here, members of the class model “wampum” (small beads used for decoration and money) in the unique necklaces and bracelets they created.
Pre-K students have been busy making beautiful artwork in class!
Pre-K students participated in a color mixing experiment. They used milk, food coloring and dish soap to mix the colors together.
Fourth graders at Floral Park-Bellerose School recently participated in a science investigation “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” about weathering and erosion.
Fourth graders showed off their work with art teacher Amanda Ellis.
Beginner violinists and violists at Floral Park-Bellerose School took part in a competition to see who can balance a marble on their instruments for the longest period of time. Along with being a fun contest, it also is a wonderful posture exercise. These students were the top third grade “marble champions.”
Outdoor Tents Pop Up at Floral Park-Bellerose School
Floral Park-Bellerose School students have been able to spend extra time outdoors during the school day due to the recent addition of tents.
The school currently has three tents, which teachers can sign up to utilize through Google Forms. Classes have been using the tents for outdoor classrooms, mask break locations, social time and more. The tents allow for additional time outside for the students, separate from their scheduled daily recess.
Floral Park-Bellerose School students had fun drawing their school building in class!
