Principal Chat
Another Happy Friday! If we are lucky, the upcoming week may be slightly warmer than this Arctic blast we've had. But, the temps will still be super cold and, if the feels like temperature is 20 F or higher, kids WILL be outside for recess. PLEASE make sure they bring the appropriate winter wear to school - hats, gloves and a coat. You may need to remind some of your kiddos that a hoodie is NOT a coat. Our older grades spend 30 minutes at recess and a hoodie is a poor choice to keep a child warm for that entire time.
PROGRESS REPORTS - Progress reports are available today via the link for your child's PLP. If you did not receive a link to the PLP please contact your child's teacher. The progress report is a tab at the bottom of the form.
LOTTERY RUNS ON MONDAY - Registration for CURRENT Bridge students has closed. We will run the lottery for siblings, military and staff on January 27. Interested families can call the office to schedule a tour (801)499-5180.
FREE MARTIAL ARTS FOR FEBRUARY - The Sign Up for FREE martial arts provided by Joeson Martial Arts on Tuesdays or Thursdays in February is now open. The time is 4:45 - 5: 30 pm. This program is NOT supervised or staffed by Bridge Elementary. The program is limited to 20 students per evening.
ATTENDANCE - our schoolwide attendance rate is 92%. This is tracked at the state and national level.While our attendance rate is currently higher than the state or national average, the sweet spot is 95% of students attending school consistently. At the end of each month we will look at the attendance percentage. If we hit 95% students will get a FREE dress down day the following month. On January 31 we will run the report. If attendance is at 95% or higher students will get a FREE Dress Down Day on Thursday, February 13. Please see further below in the newsletter for important attendance information.
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.
FAMILY MATH NIGHT - Our annual Family Math Night with FREE dinner is Monday, January 27. See below for more information.
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 4th 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 connecting with your child after a meltdown to help your child feel valued and confident.
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
- Sibling, Staff and Military Lottery for 2025-2026 - January 27
- Family Math Night - January 27, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
- Valentine's Exchange - Thursday, February 13
- FREE Skate Night at Classic - February 27, 5 - 8 pm
- Parent Teacher Conferences - March 6 & 7
- Roy FD Assembly - March 17, 9 - 10 am
- 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
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.
Demonstrated Competency and Assessment - Progress Reports
Bridge's model aligns perfectly with the state's Personalized Competency Based Learning (PCBL) framework.
The student's Personalized Learning Plan (PLP or KLP for kindergarten) is the document you use to find your child's demonstrated competency and assessment. The first page of the PLP provides your child's goals, action step to the goals and their progress which is updated monthly. There are two other tabs that show reading and math progress.
A tab at the bottom of the PLP there is a "Progress Report" tab. This data is updated three times a year. Today the progress report will show your child's MOY (middle of year) data. Showing both beginning of year (BOY) and MOY scores allows you to quickly see your student's growth. Please contact your child's teacher immediately if you have not received a recent link to their PLP.
Bridge only has a couple of stalls for individuals with disabilities. These spaces are reserved for those who have a handicap placard hanging on their mirror or a designation on their license plate. Many times these stalls are filled with cars that do not have the appropriate designation and those who TRULY need to use the handicap stalls are unable to do so. PLEASE be considerate and use these stalls only if you are legally allowed to do so.
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.
During recess some kids are playing a game of tag which requires lots of touching including laying down on top of each other. Some kids call it "Candyman" while others call it "Stack Man". Please let your kiddos know this game is NOT a school sanctioned game. Tag is great - like the olden days - someone is "it" and they chase others around and tap them. But dragging, holding, swinging around and laying down on top of each other are not the way our kids will be playing tag at Bridge. Teachers and staff have been informed and they will tell our students; however, please mention it to your kids as well.
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.
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:
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
Susan Lindsey
Susan Lindsey is a fourth grade teacher this year. She loves teaching and spending her days with her students. She believes that learning should never stop.
When she is not at school she enjoys spending time with her 8 grandchildren (one more on the way), her children and her horses. She barrel races and shows horses competitively. She enjoys reading and activities that require her being outside.
Susan has a Master's Degree from Weber State University in Curriculum and Design and a Bachelor's Degree is Technical Sales.
Susan loves teaching at Bridge!
Brittany Watson
I have been with Bridge since the beginning and love the individual learning each student receives. 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 and camping. I love visiting Hawaii, whale watching, and snorkeling.
Morgan Daich
This is my first year as a teacher at Bridge and I love it. Interacting with my students every day is one of my favorite things. When not at school, I am with my family. I have a wonderful husband, three kids, and two dogs. We love everything outdoors. Skiing, mountain biking, hiking, pickleball, and traveling.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
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 can 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