Bridge Bulletin

Welcome back and welcome to the first newsletter of 2024!

The kids are settling in nicely. It takes just a day for most of them to get all their chatting and wiggles out and remember the procedures in the classroom. For most kids, they are super excited to be back in school - and listening to parents, kids aren't the only ones excited that school is back in session!

Teachers are gearing up for the middle of year assessments. These will begin next week and continue for a couple of weeks. Please make sure students get plenty of rest and are AT school. Absent students still need to take the assessments but instead of taking them at scheduled times they have to take them during other classroom activities.

CALENDAR SURVEY - we love parent input before we create next year's school calendar. Please use this link to take the survey to provide input (this is the same link sent in the email on Tuesday morning). The survey will close on January 13. The data from the survey is used to create the 2024-2025 school year calendar which is sent to the board for approval.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XQC3F8Q

YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE - Do not miss out! Further below in the newsletter is the information and the link to order. We do NOT have yearbooks at the school for you to purchase if you miss the deadline.

STAFF HIGHLIGHTS - This week we highlight our 3rd grade teachers! Please read further below in the newsletter for information about these amazing educators!

LOTTERY OPENS - the lottery for 2024-2025 opens January 22. We will run the first lottery for siblings, including incoming kindergarteners, on February 5. We will run the lottery for the remaining upon spots on February 19. Please let your friends and family know they can find enrollment information and the lottery on our website by selecting the yellow ENROLL NOW menu option at the top of the home page.

https://www.bridgecharter.org/enroll-now

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

NO SCHOOL

• January 15 (Martin Luther King Day)
• February 2 (Legislative Day - Teacher Professional Development)
• February 19 (President's Day)
• March 7 and 8 (Parent Teacher Conferences)
• April 1 - 8 (Spring Break)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• January 23: Math Night FREE Dinner 6:00 - 7:30 pm
• January 26: $2 Donation Dress Down
• March 6 - 8: Parent Teacher Conferences

Please keep reading for more information about this past week and events for the upcoming weeks.

As always, thank you for CHOOSING Bridge and sharing your kids with us! We know you have lots of options in education and we are honored that you have made the choice to have your students attend our awesome school!

Lani Rounds

Principal

During advisory time on Fridays, our 1st - 6th graders participate in rotations which include virtual field trips (1 - 4) and STEM for grade 5 & 6. Advisory is also the time students meet with their advisor to review their personalized learning plan (PLP).

• 1st Grade - Polar Bears
• 2nd Grade - Baloons
• 3rd Grade - Finland
• 4th Grade - Rollercoasters
• 5th Grade - Bridges
• 6th Grade - Ozobots

Dr. Paul Kremer, the Executive Director of Utah Public Charter Schools, visited Bridge on Wednesday. He was excited to see our unique learning model at Bridge that his colleagues have told him about. Dr. Kremer learned about our model and then was able to observe P90, HOP math, small group instruction, computer aided instruction, specials and teacher's PPCD time in action. He was able to tour the entire school and see the unique way our classroom pods are designed as well as see the variety of flexible seating options offered to students. Dr. Kremer was amazed at the high level of student engagement and the high number of our adult to student ratio. We are always so excited to have high powered guests at the school to hear their feedback and to hopefully learn about some ways we can improve what we are doing for kids.

You can find more information about Utah charter schools HERE.

For old people like me, you may have the soundtrack from "Welcome Back Kotter" in your head when you read that title. We were super excited to welcome back Mrs. Tucker this week! The kids were hugging her and wouldn't let her go. As our first ever Assistant Principal, she is going to be such a fabulous addition to our administrative team!

Research shows that time spent outdoors is critical for the mental and physical health of kids. "Time spent outdoors is beneficial for physical and mental health and has also been shown to reduce the risk of myopia. Myopia (also called short-sightedness or near-sightedness) can be delayed or prevented in children by aiming for two hours per day of time spent outdoors." At Bridge our kiddos get approximately 60 minutes daily of outside time.

Unless it is a "red" air day or the temperature is less than 20 F, our kiddos will be outside. PLEASE make sure they have the right clothing for winter in Utah - a coat, hat, boots and gloves will make their outside time much more pleasant and safe.

Assessments for MOY start next week!

The MOY assessments will be reported on your student's progress report by February 8, 2024. The progress report is tab at the bottom of your child's Kindergarten learning Plan (KLP) or their Personalized Learning Plan (PLP). The link to the KLP or PLP is sent to you via email each month from your child's teacher.The tabs at the bottom of the KLP and the PLP also provide information regarding the standard scores for Acadience and Imagine Learning. If you are not receiving the link, PLEASE reach out to your child's teacher.

The student's progress report shows the scores from beginning of year (BOY) so you can compare the MOY scores to see your child's growth. Even a child who is proficient and above grade level must make growth. In all areas we are looking for student GROWTH. Yes, it is terrific for students to be proficient; however, measuring student growth provides a better indicator of how much they are learning and also helps us know how effective and impactful our instruction is.

Imagine Literacy - all students will take the Imagine Literacy test. This test will measure your chid's overall literacy skills and their vocabulary skills. If your child has a high enough reading ability the assessment will also provide the student with a Lexile score. The Lexile score provides an overall measure of your child's reading and comprehension ability. This is a computer-based assessment.

Imagine Math - all students will take the Imagine Math test. This test is an adaptive test and will measure your child's math skills as compared to the expected skills they should attain for their grade level. Your child will be provided a Quantile score. The Quantile score provides an approximate grade range of their overall math skills. This is a computer-based assessment.

Acadience Math - Acadience math is comprised of multiple measures. For kindergarteners they are tested in a one on one environment and their information is provided verbally. Students in 1st grade have two tests that are completed in a one on one environment and one test, computation, that is completed in a small group. Our 2nd - 6th grade students complete two paper-based assessments in a small group. One assessment tests their basic computation skills. The second assessment is a concepts and applications test and it assesses a child's ability to complete more complex math problems such as story problems, time and measurement and geometry.

Acadience Reading - Acadience reading is a basic reading skills assessment and for grades K - 2 the entire assessment is completed in a one on one testing environment. For 3rd - 6th grades, the oral reading assessment is completed one on one while the MAZE comprehension assessment is completed in a small group.

Writing - Students in grades 3 - 6 complete a writing measure on. a topic provided by the teacher. First, students complete a pre-writing assignment to help them prepare for the computer-based entry into Utah Compose. Students type their essay into Utah Compose and the essay is scored by the computer. The score is provided on the student's progress report as a percentage.

Once again, Power Chess will rent space from Bridge on Fridays after school to implement an after school chess program. Information and registration can be found using the QR code below or going to the Community Events page on our website. This program is open to all community members - not just Bridge students.

Beginning February, Joeseon Martial Arts will begin renting our gym for their martial arts program. This provides a nice chunk of cash to Bridge but, additionally, they will be teaching two BASE classes each week - one on Tuesday and one on Thursday. Each grade will have an opportunity to attend the class each month. This was so well received when Champion martial arts provided us this opportunity we are really excited to be able to continue this for our BASE students. The schedule of which grade is attending martial arts each week for BASE is on our calendar. You can access our calendar from our webpage by selecting the CALENDAR icon.

Additionally, Joeseon Martial Arts have extended an offer to all Bridge students and students of Bridge staff. "Bridge students or staff who sign up in December, will get January tuition for free. The enrollment fee is $229 and will include everything needed to get started. Uniform, belt, T-shirt, gloves, USA taekwondo. Then in February tuition is $99 for one student and custom for two or more. They get $79 off the enrollment fee and $36 off each month thereafter, NO contracts."

Use this link to enroll your Bridge student: https://jmafit.gymdesk.com/signup/v/A12Bb

Use this link for information to inquire about the program

https://linqapp.com/Joseon_Martial_Arts?r=link

For more information please contact Master Jason 801-436-8298 or jason@utmac.org

This week's fresh fruit and vegetable program brought our kiddos strawberries and Caviar (finger) limes. The limes had mixed reviews 😂 though the strawberries were a HUGE hit!

We are super grateful to have this program at Bridge.This program is designed to give kids the opportunity to try fresh fruits and vegetables that they may otherwise not have an opportunity to try.

Teryn's bio for Newsletter

I have been teaching 3rd grade at Bridge since we opened. I love teaching 3rd grade, and work with the best team of teachers and paras. Math is my favorite subject to teach. I enjoy the enthusiasm of the students, and am overjoyed when they exhibit the light and joy of understanding.

My favorite pastime is spending time with my family, any time with my family! We enjoy playing board games, video games, traveling, kayaking, karaoke, and laughing and joking together. I also enjoy reading and the escape or learning it provides me.

I absolutely love teaching third grade and am a firm believer in the individualized learning we do at Bridge. I have taught third grade for 9 years and have experience in both charter and district schools. I love spending time with my family and especially love being outdoors. Summer is my favorite season because I LOVE warm weather and sunshine. I also enjoy traveling, gardening, cooking, going to Bear Lake, reading, and supporting my kids in their activities.

Mari has been teaching at Bridge since year 1, and in third grade the whole time. She loves this school and thinks third grade is the best! She got engaged this summer on top of a mountain and getting married this spring. When she's not at school she likes to crochet, knit, hike, run, and spend time with her family. She has a sweet golden doodle named Zoey that is an awesome running and hiking buddy.

I have lived in Utah my whole life and grew up in Syracuse. My husband and I have 4 kids, 2 boys, and 2 girls. I’m lucky to have my youngest still attend Bridge with me. Our family lives in Roy with a black Lab named Sky, a cat named Luna, and 11 chickens. We enjoy spending time together, traveling, boating, camping, and sitting in the front yard socializing. I love visiting Hawaii, whale watching, and snorkeling with turtles. We spend a lot of time taking our boys to lacrosse games. I enjoy scrapbooking, baking, and learning new things. I have been with Bridge from the beginning and love the individual learning that each student receives. I graduated from Western Governors University with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education. I am so lucky to spend the day with amazing kids and help them grow.

Each week students attend a Visible Learning class where they learn about traits of a good learner. Next week students will learn about Flexibility "Adjusting to change with a good attitude."

I Will....

• Anticipate change.
• Adjust when needed.
• Look for the benefits.
• Finish the job.
• Do what is right.

By using these visible learning traits each day students will become lifelong learners who are set up for success. Please use this same verbiage at home and recognize when your student is using this trait.

Although we have had the visitor check in system since the beginning of September, some parents seem to have not received the information. When you visit Bridge to volunteer or have a meeting with your child's teacher, including a PLP meeting or an IEP meeting during school hours, you MUST bring a valid state ID and scan it into our check in system. The system will complete a background check to ensure the individual is allowed to be on the campus of an elementary school. If the the individual does not pass the background check the child's teacher can come to the office for the meeting. This is just one more step in protecting the safety of all our students.

The calendar for the school year can be accessed on our website using the link below:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/2023-2024-calendar

We LOVE parent and grand parent volunteers at school! If you would like to volunteer, please check with your child's teachers. If you want to volunteer but aren't excited about coming into the school, we have LOTS of opportunity for outside volunteer work including:

• Cutting Watch Me Learn tickets (stop by the office).
• Pulling weeds in the rock areas and park strips (we have all the area in front of the school and up 4800 S along the school fence).
• Sorting construction paper into like colors (stop by the office).
• Using rakes and shovels to redistribute the gravel from the bottom of the retention area in front of the school to the top area to cover the black landscape screen.
• Parking lot duty before and after school (just check in at the office, put on a yellow vest and talk to Travis in the crosswalk for instructions).

Once your family has volunteered 30 hours they can stop by the front office and ask for a VOLUNTEER FROG. There is no formal tracking program - just track the hours yourself. Then, write your family's name on the frog and tape the frog on our volunteer pond in the front foyer.

If you want to volunteer but do not have the time, you can donate $90 to cover the 30 hours. If you choose to donate, complete the volunteer form. You can donate in the office or by using our DONATE icon on the home page of our website.

Volunteering or donating is OPTIONAL and is not required to be a student or a parent of a student at Bridge Elementary.

Absences MUST be excused within 24 hours of the absence. You can do this by leaving a message on the Attendance line at school (801)499-5180 or by using the Excuse Absence online form. You can find this on our website by clicking on the Excuse Absence icon or using the link below:

EXCUSE ABSENCE

Weber Human Services SMR is available for 24/7 crisis support and short-term stabilization. To request help or make a referral, dial 988. Weber Human Service's works with families to improve functioning, develop and maintain healthy communication, and enhance ability to cope with future crisis.

Bridge Elementary is committed to maintaining a school climate that is safe, welcoming, and free of harassment and discrimination. The School prohibits all forms of harassment, and it does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, marital status, or disability.

We encourage anyone who believes they (or someone else) have been subjected to harassment or discrimination at the School to file a complaint with the School’s Principal, Lani Rounds. The School will promptly investigate and resolve all such complaints in accordance with School policy.

If you would like to learn more about how the School handles complaints of harassment or discrimination, please review the School’s Notice of Nondiscrimination, Civil Rights Policy, and Bullying and Hazing Policy on the School’s website at https://www.bridgecharter.org/policies-procedures

Title I was initially passed in 1965 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It is the largest federal assistance program for public schools. These supplemental funds provide students the opportunity to receive a fair, equitable and high-quality education to help close achievement gaps.

Bridge Elementary receives our Title I funding based on the percentage of students that qualify for free or reduced lunch. For this reason we encourage ALL families to apply for Free/Reduced lunch through Aspire to ensure every single student receives the services needed, including access to free or reduced meals if appropriate.

Title I provides avenues for parent input and participation. We do this through our surveys and the link to the form on our website which allows parents to submit questions and suggestions.

You can find more information about Title I as well as a form to ask questions or provide suggestions regarding Title I, on our website at:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/school-events

Principal - Lani Rounds - Lani@BridgeCharter.org

Assistant Principal - Sara Tucker - Sara@BridgeCharter.org

Student Support - Stacey Archuleta - Stacey@BridgeCharter.org

• Morning Supervision and BASE
• Behavior Support and Bullying
• 504 Plans

Lead Secretary - Lalani Williams - Lwilliams@BridgeCharter.org

• Aspire
• Lottery
• Registration

Social Worker - Chelsea Silverwood - Chelsea@BridgeCharter.org

School Nurse - Vicki Ross - Vicki@bridgecharter.org

Special Education

Dianne Kelsey SpED Teacher - Dianne.Kelsey@BridgeCharter.org

Chad McBride SpED Teacher - Chad@BridgeCharter.org

Julie Christensen SpED Director - Julie@BridgeCharter.org

ELL Coordinator - Nichol Lloyd - Nichol@BridgeCharter.org

Meal Issues - Jodi Jensen - Jodi@BridgeCharter.org

Classroom Teachers - see website - https://www.bridgecharter.org/teachers

• Daily activities for your child
• Student progress
• Questions about student schedule

The mission of Bridge Elementary is to provide students with a personalized learning experience and empower them to take personal ownership and accountability for their own academic performance.

Email: info@bridgecharter.org
Website: bridgecharter.org
Location: 4824 Midland Drive, Roy, UT
Phone: (801)499-5180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgeCharter