Paul J Bellew Elementary School

Mr. Hunter runs the school based on his personal preferences and is not a good communicator with parents. He has implemented punishing and punative features with no input from parents. Also, while some of the teaching staff is excellent, it is very hit or miss. There is very little consistency so good luck. The program itself is sound, however, the communication and consistency expected of a school so highly recommended is sorely missing.
—Submitted by a parent

Paul J. Bellew is a place where the education depends on your child's placement each year. There is room for improvement. While there are some amazing educators, there are also classrooms where teachers are punitive and rely on color coded discipline programs for cooperation. Writing instruction is not emphasized and could use some help. Much of the instruciton is traditional and relies on grammar pages and spelling, which does not necessarily improve writing. Mr. Hunter loves the children and has high standards. He runs a safe building.
—Submitted by a parent

PJ Bellew is THE best Elementary School in the district... The Principal, Mr. Hunter does an outstanding job of constantly raising the bar for kids to achieve. He does this in a way that kids respond to enthusiastically because it is so much FUN! The teachers and staff, each and every one of them care for our kids as if they were their own. Their hearts are in everything they do and it shows. The kids have every possible advantage for a stimulating learning environment. I can't say enough about how truly wonderful and blessed my kids have been to experience PJB. Our third child, Max is in Kindergarden and I will really miss this school when he moves on. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all... even our janitors and lunch ladies are amazing! 'We won't rest... till the good gets better and the better gets best!' Yvonne Albanese
—Submitted by Yvonne Albanese, a parent

I have had 2 children in PJ Bellew for 3 years. I think it is an outstanding school. The teachers are very hard workers and are truely dedicated to the kids. The programs run through our district are very good. I have to say the parent involvement is good depending on the teacher however, that does not necessarily mean that is a bad thing. Some teachers find that parents can create bad circumstances. Also, the only bad thing that I would say about Bellew is that if your child needs any sort of Special Ed help, Bellew is not the place to be. Currently only two elementary schools in our district offer special ed and Bellew is not one of them. That makes it very difficult on the child especially if it is necessary to move him or her to the appropriate school.
—Submitted by a parent