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October 9, 2026

West Islip Students Spread Kindness on Dolly Day

Students lined up in hallway wearing paper hats.

Elementary students at Bayview Elementary School and Paul J. Bellew Elementary School celebrated Dolly Parton Day on Sept. 25 by honoring the entertainer’s love of reading and her commitment to kindness and generosity. 

Held on the date which pays homage to her hit song "9 to 5,” students and staff at both schools were encouraged to wear pink in honor of Dolly Parton. The day began with a Summer Reader’s Breakfast, recognizing students who dedicated time to reading over the summer.

At Bayview Elementary School, students embraced the spirit of the day through a variety of activities focused on literacy and kindness. They created Dolly-inspired bookmarks and decorated the hallways with a colorful butterfly display. Each butterfly featured an act of kindness that a student had performed, creating a visual reminder throughout the school of how small acts can make a big difference. Classes also got into the spirit of the celebration by creating cowboy hats, adding to the fun and festive atmosphere of the day.

At Paul J. Bellew Elementary School, students participated in a book donation drive inspired by Dolly Parton’s commitment to childhood literacy. New and gently used books are being collected through Oct. 9 to donate to The Book Fairies, a nonprofit that shares the joy of reading with children in the community by distributing books. Through acts of service such as the book drive, students were encouraged to look for opportunities to spread kindness to their classmates, teachers and school community.
 

A group of students and teachers pose together in a brightly lit classroom.   A large group of young students poses in a school hallway with a colorful paper mural on the wall.

A group of students and an adult pose in front of a banner that reads "Welcome Back to School Paul A. Bellem Elementary".   A large group of children and adults pose together in a bright room with a green decorative wall.

A group of children and a teacher wear paper crowns in a brightly decorated classroom.   A group of children and an adult pose in front of a green hedge wall decorated with paper flowers and butterflies, with a sign that reads "Waiting for the Wings".

A woman wearing a pink cowboy hat and fringed jacket speaks into a microphone while standing next to a young person in a pink dress.   A group of students sits on the floor in a brightly lit school hallway next to a decorated wall.

A woman wearing a pink cowboy hat and fringed top holds a microphone for a child in a classroom decorated with a green hedge wall, butterflies, and pink flowers.