Paul J. Bellew Elementary School is raising money and educating the community this April in recognition of Disabilities Awareness Month. On April 21, the school held a Mile for a Smile walk on the West Islip High School track. This is the eighth year of the walk. This year, Paul J. Bellew invited former students from the middle and high school to join the walk.

To raise funds for ALS and its Ride for Life, which will visit the school in May, Paul J. Bellew sold raffles for students to soak their favorite teacher with the ice bucket challenge. The school also had strike out a teacher and a one lap race prior to the start of the walk. Trophies were given to race winners. Raffles were also sold for a lunch with Principal Rhonda Pratt.

Throughout the month, Paul J. Bellew students partnered with their buddy classes to create paper quilts highlighting the importance of acceptance, kindness and empathy toward others. Paul J. Bellew raised more than $1,800 for ALS this year.

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Date Added: 5/8/2023