Two teams from the North Bellmore School District had strong finishes in The Stock Market Game, an experience that gives students real financial insight using fictitious money. Fifth and sixth graders in the ALPHA gifted and talented program participate in the game every year.

Each group gets $100,000 to invest in stocks of their choice. This year’s competition ran from October until April. ALPHA teacher Laura Conway said that teamwork and compromise were essential, as each group consisted of three or four students.

The fifth grade team of Ryan Diaz, Hailey Ianniello, Emmett Liu and Arielle Zhang placed second in the region in the elementary division, which consisted of 178 teams. They finished with $111,582.06. The group, consisting of students from Newbridge Road and Saw Mill Road elementary schools, invested in several stocks including Amazon, Coke, Lululemon and Macy’s.

Sixth graders Tyler Ashley, Haroon Chaudhary and Luka Pavsic, who come from John G. Dinkelmeyer and Park Avenue schools, earned third place in the middle school division. They competed against approximately 350 other teams, and finished with a total of $115,340.12. The stocks that made the biggest impact for them were Morgan Stanley, Spotify Technology and Sprouts Farmers Market.

Ms. Conway said that before the investing begins, students read “Lawn Boy” by Gary Paulson, a book about a young man who starts a successful lawn-mowing business. Students then talk about market trends and influences, as well as supply and demand. A total of 16 teams from North Bellmore participated in this year’s game.

The Stock Market Game is sponsored by the SIFMA Foundation. The goal is to make the most money over a six-month period, so students have to try to find stocks with the greatest short-term earning potential.

“For this game, you have to be more of a bull than a bear, because you have to predict which stocks are going to take off,” Ms. Conway said. “The Stock Market Game really prepares them for future investing and also gives them lots of opportunities for leadership and to have their voices heard.”

Date Added: 6/13/2025

The living wax museum is the can’t-miss event of the year for fifth graders and their parents at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School. Now in its fourth year as the culmination of a biography research project, students highly anticipate the day to dress up as their famous figures.

On May 27, family members toured the cafeteria and gymnasium to learn about famous people from the past and present. The 80 fifth graders dressed up as artists, athletes, entertainers, scientists and others who have made a positive impact on society. They stood still until guest came by to hear their prepared speeches.

Each student created a tri-fold presentation board on his or her notable person, with biographical information, achievements and fun facts. They did their research using books from the school and public library, as well as online resources. There was also a digital component as students used ChatterPix to create animated talking pictures of their subjects.

Fifth grade teacher Melissa Halaris was thrilled that students chose a variety of famous people to research, including several lesser-known individuals who made important contributions. 

“They picked people from all different walks of life, who all made a big difference in the world,” she said. 

Click here to view the Picture-Perfect Portrayals At JGD’s Wax Museum slideshow.

Date Added: 6/2/2025

With their future high school standing tall in the background, sixth graders from the North Bellmore School District had a picturesque day for the annual track meet on May 19. The sun was shining and a steady breeze was a delight for the runners who participated in several different competitions.

The event brought together nearly 300 soon-to-be graduates from John G. Dinkelmeyer, Martin Avenue, Newbridge Road, Park Avenue and Saw Mill Road elementary schools. Students proudly wore their respective Class of 2025 shirts. The setting was the track at Mepham High School, a place they will become familiar with following a two-year stop in middle school.

Physical education teachers coordinated the track meet, which consisted of short- and long-distance races. The events spanned from 50-meter sprints to the 800-meter race that was two laps around the track. There were also four-person relay races. Students practiced for their different events in the weeks prior during physical education classes.

Parents and family members were invited to sit in the bleachers and cheer on the students. Sixth graders left with pride for their elementary schools and with excitement for a future together with all their North Bellmore peers.

Click here to view the Track Meet Unites North Bellmore Sixth Graders slideshow.

Date Added: 5/27/2025

From their first day of kindergarten, students in the North Bellmore School District are nurtured to become joyful lifelong learners. Please view the district’s spring newsletter and Kindergarten Experience video to learn more about all facets of the program:

Spring 2025 Newsletter:
Please click here to view the Spring 2025 Newsletter.

Kindergarten Experience Video:

Date Added: 5/14/2025

Second graders welcomed spring at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School by growing their own grass. Students in Ellen Tournour’s class each grew grass in a cup, then added eyes and a mouth to the outside to create their own grassheads.

After a weeks of growing, it was time for a “haircutting” party. Each student grabbed his or her scissors and gave the grass a trim. Some children even worked on stylish cuts for their grassheads.

The project was part of a science unit on the life cycles of plants. They put grass seed and dirt into a stocking, tied it up and placed it in a clear cup. Ensuring their seeds got regular sunlight and water, students observed the roots growing in the soil and then the grass sprouting through the stocking.

Ms. Tournour also connected the science project to literacy, as students gave their grassheads names and wrote fictional stories about them. After the cutting party, they were able to take their grassheads home.

Click here to view the Grassheads Engage JGD’s Young Scientists slideshow.

Date Added: 5/8/2025