Bridge Bulletin

The countdown begins - there are only 18 more days of school - YIKES! It is crazy how once we finish Christmas break the days just slide away so quickly.

Testing begins on Monday. Please don't slack off on the good night sleep for you kiddos. The last couple weeks are SUPER important for us to see how well kids have progressed. Of course student data is sent to you on their progress report; however, the data is CRITICAL for us to know where we are doing well as a school academically and where we need to make improvements. The end of year data will be shared with parents through the newsletter and posted on our website. The data is also shared with our Board. Please take a moment to help your kiddos understand just how important this information is as next year's academic program for your student at Bridge will begin with this end of year data as a gauge.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION CORNER - Please read further below for Ms. Chelsea's words of wisdom. This week she is talking about the power of letting our children fail - productive struggle is a trait that all individuals need to learn in order to navigate life successfully.

FIELD DAY is coming soon. It is hard to believe but we only have 10 school weeks until this school year ends. Our Field Day is a huge party complete with bouncy toys, a magician, games and prizes, face painting, a fabulous lunch and water games.

We are requesting donations of the following items for Field Day. Bring any items into the office.

• Cans of soda (any kind especially the fun flavors in Shasta or the other off brand names)
• Prizes kids can win at the Games. IDEAS - new toys from kid's meals, items bought in bulk at Zurchers or Oriental Trading, bulk items from the Dollar store.

You can also donate through Amazon using this link to select your order:

https://a.co/3JNZEkG

STAFF HIGHLIGHTS - This week we have our final staff highlight and it is Lani Rounds, the principal at Bridge.

ICYMI - this is the link to our website for all previous news bulletins:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/bridge-bulletin

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

NO SCHOOL

• Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Monday, April 29 - May 17 - Staff vs Students Coin Craziness for our HUGE lunch payment deficit
• May 13 - 17 - BOGO Book Fair in the library 3:30 - 5:00 and 1:30 - 2:30 on Friday.
• Tuesday, May 14 - Classic Skate Night 5:30 - 8:30
• Friday, May 17 - Kindergarten Round Up for all incoming kindergarteners (email invite sent)
• Week of May 20 - Staff Appreciation Week
• Thursday - May 30 - Field Day (last day of school and short day)
• Wednesday, June 26 - 5 pm FREE Skating at Neptune Skating in Ogden

Did you know that 80% of people who are blind are illiterate? One of our 6th students, Snow Eklund has not only beat those odds, she also recently placed FIRST in EVERY age/ability group at the regional Braille competition. Snow's high scores placed her in the top 50 out of the USA, Canada, AND the UK combined, and qualified her for the finals where she will compete against the other top 49 competitors from all 3 countries.

Snow is the epitome of an individual that has incorporated all of Bridge's visible learning traits - thoroughness, determination, flexibility, initiative, reflection and enthusiasm and has shown that by working hard she has not only earned this top recognition but has also overcome every challenge she has faced as a child who is blind. WAY TO GO SNOW and we wish you all the best!

AFTER SCHOOL PICK UP - We have noticed a HUGE increase in the numbers of parents parking across the street from the school (along the canal fence) to pick up students. This is EXTREMELY dangerous especially for those students whose parents do not get out of the car and simply motion their children across the street. PLEASE CEASE and DESIST NOW! It is SO dangerous - people drive fast - people aren't observant - people are distracted on their phones. If you are in a hurry to get your kids and think parking across the street hurries up the process, park your car, come into the school and check your students out a few minutes early. Yes, they will miss some important stuff BUT they will be safe! Additionally, parents who park on 4800 S near the intersection at Midland Drive are blocking traffic turning from Midland onto 4800 S. This creates a HUGE backlog in the parking lot as people are unable to pull out onto 4800 S safely.

We have met with the city manager and police and we do not qualify for a crosswalk (too close to the corner) and do not have enough walkers to qualify for a crossing guard. It isn't that we don't WANT to walk people across the street, we are not allowed to. Since it is a public street we are NOT allowed to go out there and stop traffic ourselves. You MUST have permission from the city (for city roads) and the state (for state roads) to stop traffic.

We REQUIRE every single person to take the safety off our kiddos seriously and refrain from parking along the canal fence and attempting to cross Midland Drive.

Today's fun included Hero Day for 2nd grade - 4th grade end of year awards for students who passed 30 Imagine math lessons and/or their PLP goals and 6th graders presenting their inventions for Shark Tank judges.

Bridge is a member of Utah's Safe UT. SafeUT is a crisis chat and tip line that provides real-time crisis intervention for students, parents/guardians, and educators through live chat and a confidential tip line—right from your smartphone. This also allows students or parents to report potentially violent or concerning issues they see or hear about that may impact the staff or students at Bridge.

You can access the information from our website at:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/safeut-see-something-say-something

or directly at https://safeut.org/students

We are hiring for full-time special education para-educators to provide academic and behavioral support for students. The salary is $17 - $20 hour depending on education and experience.

We are also hiring for a full-time 1st grade teacher. We are looking for someone with a professional educator license but will consider an associate license with experience in 1st grade.

Interested applicants should send a resume to Lani@BridgeCharter.org and schedule an interview using this link:

INTERVIEWS

Our past due lunch accounts total nearly $13,000!!! It breaks my heart that we cannot offer free lunch for everyone, but that is a decision that our legislators need to make. Sadly, at the end of the year overdue balances are absorbed by the school's budget meaning less money available for curriculum, instruction and salaries.

If you are looking for a place to donate, PLEASE consider donating to our Happy Go Lucky account to help with overdue balances. You can donate at the office with a check or cash or online using our DONATE icon. We are a 501(3)(c) organization and your donations are tax deductible!!

To help reduce this deficit we are going to have a Staff vs Student fundraiser (we have 100 staff and 550 students). Staff and students are encouraged to bring their loose change, or even loose dollar bills 😀 to drop in the blue 5 gallon bottles labeled STAFF or STUDENTS, in the front foyer. This will begin on Monday, April 29 and end on Friday, May 17. We will count the money the week of May 20. The group with the most funds collected (STAFF or STUDENTS) will earn a FREE dress down day the ENTIRE last week of school and a Fat Boy ice cream sandwich on Wednesday, May 29.

If your child's balance is overdue, please start paying as much as you can to pay this balance down. Unfortunately, at the end of the year, folks with overdue balances will be sent to collections.

You can STILL apply for free and reduced lunch using your ASPIRE account.

The Family Survey links were emailed to all families recently. PLEASE take a few minutes to complete the survey. The data is used to help us make changes to ensure Bridge is providing a safe, positive and engaging academic environment for your students. The survey will close on Sunday, May 5.

"Before the United States had a Constitution, elected officials at the time advocated for a national public education system on “equal footing for all”. The Land Ordinance of 1785, established a way to help fund public education by giving states sections of land for this purpose as they entered the union. Today there are 21 states in the U.S. that have these special trust lands.

Of the 7 million acres granted at statehood, Trust Lands manages 3.3 million surface acres and 4.5 million mineral acres today. Most of these lands were sold during the first 35 years of statehood, which was an effective way of getting land into private ownership.

Trust Lands generates revenue for its beneficiaries through energy & mineral leases, real estate planning, and surface resource use on trust lands. In most years, energy & minerals generates the largest portion of revenue and we are always seeking additional opportunities to expand our energy & minerals portfolio. However, last year most of the revenue was generated by real estate. Trust Lands has large landholdings in rapidly developing areas and we work to identify the right partners to bring these properties through the development process and onto the market."

As a public school, Bridge Elementary benefits significantly by Utah's Trustlands. The school, along with parents on the Trustlands committee, set goals and create an action plan to use the Trustlands funding received by Bridge. You can find our approved Trustlands plan on our website at:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/school-plans-goals

You can find out more information regarding Trustlands at:

https://trustlands.utah.gov

Each year Bridge requests feedback on our Parent Family Engagement Policy and the Family School compact. This is part of our Title I plan. The compact is what parents sign when the student is registered for the school year. If changes are made to the compact after registration, parents are notified of the changes.

We would LOVE your feedback on these two documents. You can access the documents on our website at:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/school-plans-goals

and can provide your feedback using this form:

Family Engagement and School Compact Feedback

Waterford Upstart is an award winning program that helps prepare children for kindergarten. You can register your pre kindergarten student today! https://www.waterford.org/upstart/

For the upcoming school year we are looking for community members to assist us with a review of our Wellness Policy. You can find the current Wellness Policy on our website at https://www.bridgecharter.org/policies-procedures It is the last policy in the document.

If you would like to be part of our Wellness Policy committee, please complete the Google form. We will be in contact in the summer to update the policy.

https://forms.gle/jkRBgWk8XudDu5AK8

Social Emotional Learning resources for families and students to promote a stronger sense of self identity, mental health, and create a safer school environment. Our Visible Learning Traits (flexibility, determination, reflection, taking initiative, thoroughness, and enthusiasm) tie into Social Emotional Learning at Bridge!

LINK TO VIDEOS

At Bridge, instead of having a "maturation night" for 5th grade students which other schools typically do, we opt to provide parents the information so they can determine how much they want to share with their child and at which age they want to share it. For many girls, by the time they are in 5th grade they have already started menstruation and it is a little too late for a lesson on maturation. We believe parents can best determine what students should know about maturation and puberty, and when a child should know it.

Our maturation committee met and reviewed information from different sources. They determined, and our Board approved, to use the maturation information provided by Provo School District. The maturation information includes videos and packets for girls and boys that you can download and share with your child.

This is the link to the MATURATION information.

Once again we were approved for the Kids Read Now grant which sends home FREE books to all of our K-3 students during the summer. Students will get THREE books between June and August which are mailed to the address in Aspire. Teachers will select the books according to the student's reading level.

Parents may OPT OUT of this program by completing this form:

OPT OUT OF KIDS READ NOW

This week's fresh fruit and vegetable program brought our students red bananas and tangerines. As we end the year our grant funds are running low so students will only receive two snacks each week.

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.

I am Lani, the principal at Bridge Elementary. Most kids call me Mrs. Rounds but I really prefer "Ms. Lani". I started my journey in education as a special education teacher. Teaching is STILL what I love to do - in fact I teach two reading groups each day just to keep my hands and heart in teaching. I taught in district schools and charter schools. Eventually I became the principal at Quest Academy their second year and helped develop the junior high known as Q2.. I moved from Quest to develop and build the first two Ascent Academies schools and then became the principal at the Farmington campus. I left Ascent and taught at Municipal Elementary just up the road from Bridge (remember, teaching is my favorite thing). Eventually the Bridge Elementary charter was approved and here I am, just finishing our 4th year of operation at Bridge.

I LOVE kids and especially love to see their growth no matter how it is measured - academically or emotionally. I LOVE all I learn from the amazing staff that work at Bridge and my heart wants to explode with joy as I watch them all work tirelessly to meet the needs of students. There are SO many people involved every single day that help make Bridge a positive learning environment for all.

When I am not working I spend my time outdoors as much as possible. I like to hike, bike, ski (downhill and cross country), and paddle board. My number one hiking buddy is my sister, Lori (she's also a 2nd grade teacher at Bridge). I find great joy in traveling the country on hiking trips to National Parks and in taking my grandkids on vacations whether it is somewhere close or somewhere far away.

I practice minimalism and live in a very small home (actually a trailer), have few possessions that I don't use regularly, and wear the same thing everyday - black joggers and a Bridge shirt. I also have a Happy Clicker that I wear everyday at school. The Happy Clicker helps me remember that although things get rough and sometimes sucky things happen, overall, most days are filled with happiness. The vinyl in my office states, "Don't Let the Hard Days Win!" I try to remember that ,especially when I am treading water in the deep end.

I absolutely LOVE Bridge and LOVE seeing your kiddos every day!

Each week students attend a Visible Learning class where they learn about traits of a good learner. Next week students will learn about Determination -"Overcoming obstacles in order to reach my goal".

• Set the right goals.
• Get moving.
• Face challenges.
• Not be discouraged by failure.
• Keep traying.

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

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

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 or issues in the classroom