PK-12 Half Day - Friday, April 26

All East Greenbush CSD schools will have a half day on Friday, April 26 due to professional development. Dismissal Times: Columbia (10:03 a.m.), Goff (10:40 a.m.), Pre-K at DPS/Genet/Green Meadow/Red Mill (10:45 a.m.), Genet (11:15 a.m.), Bell Top (11:30 a.m.), DPS (11:30 a.m.), Green Meadow (11:30 a.m.), Red Mill (11:30 a.m.).

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Children’s Book Author and Anti-Bullying Advocate Visits Bell Top

Apr 28, 2023 | Bell Top, District

Children's book author Isabella Sementilli reading to students at Bell Top Elementary School.

Children’s book author and anti-bullying advocate Isabella Sementilli reading to students at Bell Top Elementary School.

Children’s book author and anti-bullying advocate Isabella Sementilli visited Bell Top Elementary School on Thursday to read from her book “The Short Story of One Tough Cookie” A True Story.” While at the school-wide assembly, Ms. Sementilli discussed the experience that inspired her book.

When Ms. Sementilli was in fifth grade, she told students, a bully pulled a chair out from beneath her causing her to fall and hit her head, leading to a concussion, fractured tailbone and neck and back injuries. After that incident, Ms. Sementilli found comfort in baking and then decided to write and publish her own book. She now has a website where she sells the book, cookies and other items with proceeds benefitting anti-bullying and brain injury awareness organizations. 

Ms. Sementilli showed the Bell Top students that young people can make a positive impact in the world and that they should spread kindness to everyone.

“It’s a lot easier to be nice than to be mean,” she said.