Principal Chat
Happy February! Although Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter, this week was a nice reprieve from the Arctic temps we’ve had for the past two months. Speaking of predictions, Vulcan, an African Lion at Hogle Zoo also made a prediction - he predicted the Eagles will win this year's Super Bowl. Apparently he was 100% accurate last year when he chose the Chiefs as the winners.
Yep, it is Super Bowl weekend - this year the Swift/Kelce team plays the Philadelphia Eagles. How many camera pans to Taylor Swift will the cameras make? Last Super Bowl she was on camera 12 times. Did you know that Vegas offers "prop" bets on how many times Swift will be shown on camera during the game and even during the National Anthem? If you are a betting person, one of the highest odds (+750) is whether Travis will propose to Taylor after the game. Just to be clear - I am not a football, Chiefs or Swift fan, or even a betting person (aside from occasional slot machines) - I just find all of this so amusing 🤣. I am hoping Vulcan was correct with his prediction 🦅
Next Thursday, February 13, is our Valentines Exchange Day because Friday, February 14 and Monday, February 17, are NO SCHOOL days.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE (PTC) - PTC is held over 2 1/2 days at Bridge.
- Wednesday, March 5 - SHORT DAY PTC = 2:00 - 7:30 pm
- Thursday, March 6 - NO SCHOOL PTC = 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
- Friday, March 7 - NO SCHOOL PTC = 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
Classroom teachers will send out a sign up for you to schedule a time to meet with your child's teacher to discuss academics, behavior, PLP and to celebrate your child's successes at school.
WELLNESS PROTOCOL - not sure if you should send your kiddo to school? We now have a Wellness Protocol that you can use to help make that decision. You can find it on our website under Resources > Policies & Procedures:
https://www.bridgecharter.org/policies-procedures
FIELD DAY DONATIONS - Our field day is an awesome event that we host on the last day of school. We have bounce houses, a magician, games and prizes, fabulous BBQ lunch, face "painting", yard games, school movie, yearbook signing and a water event. We use our dress down funds to help support this BUT donations are super helpful. The Roy Les Schwab already location donated $500 to help with field day!!!! These are the items we need:
- Water shooters (pull the plunger and fill the tube with water) from the dollar store (each 4 - 6 grade kiddo gets one).
- Prizes for the game booths. These are like the kind you get in a bag from Zurchers, Oriental Trading or the Dollar store. We have small, medium and large prizes.
- Cans of soda for the ring toss.
MATURATION - Bridge opts to provide our parents the information to share maturation with their student in their own home. Further in the newsletter you will find information about our board-adopted maturation program.
VALENTINES DAY EXCHANGE - Majority rules - 80% of those responding voted to have a Valentine's Day exchange. Bridge's Valentine's exchange will happen in the classrooms on Thursday, February 13. There is NO need for your student to create a Valentine repository. All students receive a white bag which they decorate at school. Students deliver their Valentine's to each other's bags (if you choose to send things - it is NOT a requirement). The bag is stapled shut at the end of the day and students open their items at home where parents can determine if the candy item received is something for which their child can ingest.
STAFF HIGHLIGHTS - Further in the newsletter we highlight individuals at Bridge and the important role they play in creating a positive, supportive and engaging learning environment our students. This week we highlight our amazing 6th GRADE teachers!
COMMUNITY CONNECTION - Ms. Chelsea, our social worker, provides a fabulous Community Connection every other week to help support kids and families. See below in the newsletter for ideas about using the "Asking vs Telling" strategy to help kids gain confidence and are increase the likliehood of them making good choices independently.
ICYMI - this is the link to our website for all previous news bulletins:
https://www.bridgecharter.org/bridge-bulletinb
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!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Lani Rounds
Principal
NO SCHOOL
- February 14 and 17 (teacher workday and President's Day)
- March 6 & 7 (parent teacher conferences)
- April 14 - 18 (Spring Break)
- May 26 (Memorial Day)
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Valentine's Exchange - Thursday, February 13
- FREE Skate Night at Classic - February 27, 5 - 8 pm
- Tuesday Talk & Talent - March 4, 2:15 - 3:00 pm
- Book Fair March 3 - 7 (times provided later)
- Parent Teacher Conferences - March 6 & 7
- Roy FD Assembly - March 17, 9 - 10 am
- Spring Pictures (FREE dress down day) - March 20
- Road to Success reading program ends - March 24
- Yearbooks on Sale - April 1 thru April 30
- Field Day (yearbooks, last day of school, short day) - May 29
- North Shore Aquatic Center - FREE for Bridge Family and Friends - June 11 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Learner Agency
Bridge's model aligns perfectly with the state's Personalized Competency Based Learning (PCBL) framework.
Learner Agency comes in many forms at Bridge, from choice in seating and station activities to creating goals for the PLP. One fun way kids got to express Learner Agency was during Ms. Madison's "Art Show" for Fine Arts. Students brought art to share with their classes and Ms. Madison arranged the art like an art gallery. The students had a blast and they were so kind and respectful as they viewed the art work of their peers. We are SO grateful to have Ms. Madison at Bridge!
Please do not be alarmed if there are multiple police vehicles at Bridge. Their presence is part of a new initiative. We are SUPER excited to welcome Roy City's finest to Bridge! This is not only a terrific deterrent for someone who may be considering doing something nefarious, it also gives our kiddos and staff an opportunity to build better relationships with those who serve in the public safety profession. This is the email from Sergeant Tim Fulton, sharing information about this exciting new program.
Hello Roy City Elementary School Principals,
Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your busy schedules to meet with me and discuss an initiative that the police department is excited to roll out. As discussed, the plan going forward is to have more patrol officers present at the elementary school. The goal of the police department is to foster a better relationship between students, teachers, school administration, and the police department. While doing so, the opportunity to interact with the elementary students and give them positive interactions with uniformed police officers is one of the main goals of the police department.
What does this mean as far as optics go? You will start to see Patrol Vehicles at the elementary schools more often. Patrol officers will be more visible inside the schools. Positive school interactions foster good relationships with the students, teachers, and school administration. When the students start to see the officers in the schools more, hopefully, they will be able to know that we are not there to scare anyone. Instead, we are there to make sure the students are safe and have fun while doing so.
Again, thank you for all of your support in making the Roy City Police Department one that leads by example.
You may have heard about the safety requirements the state legislature is putting in place for schools. This is a long-term plan, stretched over about 10 years. Although the legislature mandated many security features, unfortunately, there wasn't enough money allocated to actually implement the requirements for all schools.
This is a link to the new School Safety Center at USBE:
https://schools.utah.gov/schoolsafetycenter/index
Bridge is super fortunate because we have always made safety a priority and in doing so, we are well ahead of the game with:
- Locked and gated property
- Doorbell/camera system for entry during school hours
- All exterior doors locked
- Over 40 cameras on property including classrooms
- Ballistic glass at primary entry points
- AI Weapons Detection System
- Panic buttons in classrooms and on individuals
Mrs. Tucker, our assistant principal, just completed a huge grant to ask for many other items to increase Bridge's security features even more. The grant request included many things such as:
- Fulltime School Resource Office (SRO)
- Fence slats to make the playground and field less visible
- New door handles for all classrooms to reduce chance of forced entry
- Improved camera system
We do not have a for sure timeline as to when the grant will be awarded but are SO grateful to Mrs. Tucker for all of the work she put into the grant - gathering information, including bids, is an arduous process.! We are super hopeful we will at least receive the funds for the full time SRO and the fence slats as those are Bridge's two priorities to increase safety.
January was an ugly month for colds, flu, and random viruses that cause fevers and longterm coughing. In addition to the current COVID protocol, Bridge has adopted a Wellness Protocol that can help you determine if your kiddo should stay home from school. The cough seems to linger forever - in both kids and adults. Many families, and staff, have opted to wear a mask at school to help reduce the spread of germs while the cough is still active. We also have masks at school if your child would like one. Masks are also helpful for individuals who may have a lower immune system.
You can find the Wellness Protocol on our website at:
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. At Bridge, our administration and board 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.
Utah is at the forefront of providing lots of educational options for families. Charter schools, like Bridge, are just one of the choices. For students with special needs, Utah has the Carson Smith Scholarship available. The Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program allows a parent of a special needs child to apply for a scholarship to help cover the cost of private schools and special programs. Information about this program and the list of approved private schools and programs can be found on the state's website at:
There are MANY great options for junior high school for your student. Many of the lotteries for junior high charter schools are already open for enrollment. If you choose a neighborhood, district school, PLEASE contact them ASAP so you do not miss out on the registration process. This is not a comprehensive list:
Weber School District - https://www.wsd.net
Ogden School District - https://www.ogdensd.org
Davis School District - https://www.davis.k12.ut.us
Quest Academy (West Haven) - https://www.questac.org
Venture Academy (Mariott-Slaterville) - https://www.venturelearning.org
Ogden Prep Academy (Ogden) - https://ogdenprep.org
Syracuse Arts Academy (Syracuse) - https://www.syracuseartsacademy.org
Utah Military Academy (Riverdale) - https://www.utahmilitaryacademy.org/main/campuses
DaVinci Academy (Ogden) - https://secondary.davinciacademy.org
Mountain Heights Academy (online) - https://mountainheightsacademy.org
Utah Virtual Academy (online) - https://utva.k12.com
Connections Academy (online) - https://www.connectionsacademy.com/utah-online-school
Attendance at school is SO important and the attendance data is reported to the state of Utah through our Aspire system. Chronic absence is defined as a student missing 10% of school days (excused or unexcused) in a school year (so 18 days or more). Consider these facts about how attendance impacts student success.
- Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September end up missing nearly a MONTH of school
- Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. Read more...
- Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
- Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.
- When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.
If your student MUST miss school consider these options:
Ask your teacher for resources that you can use at home to keep your children learning. ALL students have access to iReady reading and math (grades 1-6) or Waterford reading and math (kindergarten).
- Identify who can support your children’s learning at home, especially if you must go to work.
- Encourage your children to call classmates and stay connected to the teacher to find out about what they missed.
As a school of choice, Bridge recognizes our model is not the right fit for every child. Nearly all children flourish with the small group and personalized learning experience Bridge offers and some children thrive in the collaborative learning pod experience complete with multiple transitions daily. However, other students may find the large learning pod with lots of movement and lots of students, provides sensory overload and is not the ideal learning environment for the them. If you have not yet had an opportunity to visit during school hours, please reach out to your child's teacher to schedule a time to come and observe your child's learning experience and environment. Parents and guardians need to carefully determine if the learning model provided by Bridge is the model that fits best for their child.
The next Tuesday Talk is Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
The first Tuesday of the month we meet in the gym as a school community, 2:15 - 3:00. During this time one grade will showcase something amazing they have completed and our Frog Squad will provide a message about kindness or one of our Visible Learning Traits. Additionally, students will get to showcase their own talent via a pre-submitted video.
Student talent can showcase any type of talent - singing, sports, dancing, stand up comedy, magic, etc.. The video must be less than one minute long and the content must be school appropriate - for example, if the student is singing the lyrics must be kid-friendly or the background music chosen for the video must be kid-firendly.
Email Mrs. Rounds Lani@BridgeCharter.org AT LEAST one week before the first Tuesday of the month to give her time to proof the video and include it in the presentation.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Visible Learning - Family Connection
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!
Students attend a Visible Learning class where they learn about six traits of a good learner - Reflection - Initiative - Flexibility - Thoroughness - Enthusiasm - Determination (RIFTED). Teaching these traits is one way we help students learn to take accountability and ownership of their learning. Our Visible Learning (VL) class alternates with our Second Steps SEL lessons. One week students will have a VL lesson and the next week an SEL lesson. These two programs align perfectly with our Culture of Learning at Bridge.
You can find all the traits on our website at: https://www.bridgecharter.org/visible-learninga
Please discuss these traits at home and help empower your children to take personal ownership and accountability for their own academic performance. You can find information about our Second Steps program, including the scope and sequence, on our website under Curriculum and Assessment: SECOND STEPS
This week our students had an opportunity to try Blood Oranges, Saturn Peaches (aka donut peaches) and Pummelos.
This program is designed to give students an opportunity to try a fresh fruit or vegetable they may not otherwise have exposure to. This is a grant from USDA that Bridge is SO fortunate to receive!
Charie Murray
Hello Bridge Families
I have been teaching 6th grade at Bridge Elementary since Bridge opened its doors. I love teaching 6th grade for many reasons but my favorite reason is the conversations the students and I share with each other. I love watching their faces light up when they realize they have grown by leaps and bounds academically, and I love watching them grow from the little 5th graders they were at the beginning of the year, to being taller than me (which doesn’t take them long) by the end of the year. It’s hilarious and sad at the same time. For me.
A little tidbit about me… I am married with one daughter. She’s married, and I am the grandmother of two beautiful boys. One of those boys is a 6th grader here at Bridge.
One of my most favorite pastimes is glamping. Yep, glamping. I am proud to say that I no longer have to sleep in a tent and wait for a bear to eat me. As soon as the weather starts to turn, my family and I are on our way to a campsite where power and water hookups await our arrival.
I also enjoy spending many hours in the summer barbecuing and gardening. In the winter months I enjoy learning about my ancestors by doing genealogy, sewing quilts, and playing board games with my family.
Naomi Gonzalez
I’m Naomi Gonzalez, a 6th grade teacher. I’ve been teaching since Bridge opened and was a math tutor for five years before that. I enjoy watching anime, reading epic fantasies, and cooking. I have one amazing little girl that's just learning how to walk. I hope to be able to share my love of travel, books, video games, and hiking with my students and my new little family.
Attendance is taken every morning by 8:45 am. The computer identifies all students who are marked "absent" and then, sends a message to all parents if the student is not marked "EXCUSED". This is done for safety reasons as well as to remind parents students must be excused from school if they are absent.
Absences MUST be excused within 24 hours of the absence, otherwise it is considered "unexcused". Once a child has 7 unexcused absences parents are sent a Notice of Compulsory Education Violation and are required to meet with administration regarding the absences. All absence are reported through our state system, Aspire. Once a child has 10 unexcused absences the school may contact the Division of Child and Family Services for educational neglect.
It is super easy to excuse an absence. Either call the office (801)499-5180 and listen for the prompts or use the EXCUSE ABSENCE icon on the front page of our website.
Safe UT - See Something? Say Something?
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 under RESOURCES at:
https://www.bridgecharter.org/safeut-see-something-say-something
or directly at https://safeut.org/students
Weber Human Services - Stabilization and Mobile Response (SMR)
Title I at Bridge
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:
Schools cannot do this alone! We can provide students with instruction on how to read and provide them with some practice, but in order to become proficient readers, students MUST practice reading at home.
The recommendation is 20 minutes daily outside of school. This can include a student reading aloud, an adult or independent reader reading to a younger reader, or an independent reader reading silently with the child being provided an opportunity to discuss their reading. Kids can read to their dog, cat, guinea pig, siblings, parents, grandparents, etc. They can record themselves reading and then listen to it again. They can re-read a paragraph or page to improve their fluency and decoding skills. Visit the link below to find ways to help your child improve their reading and develop a love for reading.
As an added bonus, minutes can be tracked for the Road to Success reading incentive program!
About Bridge Elementary Charter
Email: info@bridgecharter.org
Website: bridgecharter.org
Location: 4824 Midland Drive, Roy, UT
Phone: (801)499-5180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgeCharter