F.E. Bellows Elementary School fifth graders used air dry clay to create original 3D bird sculptures, complete with feathers and branches that they collected from the school’s grounds. The project was part of a unit on 3D sculptures in art teacher Dara Goodman’s classes.

“The idea behind this project was that the fifth graders are getting ready to spread their wings and fly away to middle school,” Goodman said. “I wanted them to take a part of F.E. Bellows with them when they move up.”

Goodman said every student created their own bird, incorporating a variety of colors and textures. Some students sculpted their birds in a nest, while others depicted them perched on a branch.

“The students were excited to take part in a 3D sculpture project and were thrilled to bring their sentimental birds with branches home with them,” Goodman said.

Rye Neck students showed off their creativity and commitment to their community by participating in the Village of Mamaroneck Coyote Task Force’s “Coyote Safety” poster contest. Forty-eight students submitted their posters, which incorporated images and informative text.

“We saw a wide breadth of style, color and approach,” said Rye Neck Middle School Principal Dr. Eric Lutinski, who organized the contest in collaboration with F.E. Bellows Elementary School Principal Michael Scarantino, the PTSA and the Village of Mamaroneck. “Some students used modern graphic techniques, some used hand drawings, and there was variation in the balance between text and imagery.”

The contest, which was open to K-12 students, was designed to increase student awareness and involvement, address the presence of coyotes in the area and promote safe practices. The students’ posters were judged for clarity of message and artistic effort by Dr. Lutinski and art teachers across the district. The winning posters are on display in each school’s hallways and are projected on video monitors. In addition, the PTSA provided prizes for each first-place winner and runner-up.

Congratulations to the following contest winners:

Daniel Warren Elementary School
• First place – J.R. Diskin, a second grader.
• Second place – Takuto Yoshida, a second grader.
• Third place – Abel Yameogo, a first grader.

F.E. Bellows Elementary School
• First place – Immanuel Tan, a fifth grader.
• Second place – Adriana Pejcic, a fifth grader.
• Third place – Sloane Diskin, a fourth grader.

Rye Neck Middle School
• First place – Airi Ino, a sixth grader.
• Second place – Taylor Vroom, a seventh grader.
• Third place – Kaho Matsumoto, an eighth grader.

Rye Neck High School
• First place – Sofie Thonhauser, a senior.
• Second place – Hikaru Noda, a junior.
• Third place – Monica Kosakowski, a freshman.