Principal Chat
This is it - the fast stretch to January! Next week we are off for Thanksgiving break. Then, in December, our last day of school is Wednesday, December 18 and we return Monday, January 6. Before you moan and groan, please remember we send a survey every year to have parents help us with the calendar. We use the majority vote to help create the calendar - these long breaks are what the majority of parents voted for. The long breaks are also the reason we get out of school at the end of May instead of before Memorial Day and the reason we have few random "teacher workdays" each month (three for the year) instead of the many random days off in a traditional district school.
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 custodial staff.
ROAD TO SUCCESS READING - Students can now log their own road to Success reading minutes! Log into Beanstack at: siebridge.beanstack.org/users/sign_in
Information about your student's login was sent in an email to you.
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 to use SPECIFIC positive praise to help enhance that positive child/adult connection through genuine respect and appreciation.
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!
Lani Rounds
Principal
NO SCHOOL
- November 25 - 29 (Thanksgiving Break)
- December 19 - January 3 (Winter Break)
- Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther)
- 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
- December 18 - "EllaMental" play for 4th - 6th grade
- Roy FD Assembly - February 24, 9 - 10 am
- FREE Skate Night at Classic - February 27, 5 - 8 pm
- Parent Teacher Conferences - March 6 & 7
- 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
Bridge was super lucky to host the state's PCBL team on Thursday. The PCBL team, and teams from several schools across the state, visited Bridge to see all of the PCBL competencies we have in place. They observed teachers and students and spent hours looking at all of our processes and procedures. They were specifically interested in our "Culture of Learning" and all the things we do to support this competency including team meetings, data sharing, PLPs, Visible Learning, Second Steps, community circle, teacher PPCD time, small group instruction, and more.
Our kiddos were SUPERB! My Happy Clicker was on fire - every student was engaged in learning. The thing our visitors found most impressive was that when we entered a classroom most kids just stayed on task and weren't even distracted or bothered by 30 new adults hovering around. This is such a compliment to our teachers, paras and students for creating, implementing and engaging in activities and lessons that keep our kids focused and engaged in learning. Also, we often have people from the state stopping in to see our unique model in action so visitors at Bridge are not unusual for our students.
The visitors - almost 30 of them - were SO complimentary about our school. This is some of their feedback:
- We foster productive relationships within a classroom having multiple adults students can connect with. Intentional collaboration happening in the classroom with adult/adult, adult/student, and student/student.
- Variety of small group instruction during P90 i- some were one on one, not every group the same size - groups clearly made intentional based on need.
- Culture of Learning- consistent engagement of kids. Every student was engaged in something and not distracted by the adults.
- Couldn’t tell who was the teacher and who were the students. Teachers and paras fully engaged with the students not just standing in front of the classroom - often sitting at a small table with the students and sometimes on the floor. In one room the students were on the couch and the teacher was sitting on the floor in front of them.
- Educators were not there just to make sure students are on task or or compliant and walking around surveilling kids. Instead educators are creating a community of learning. We love that it is not a "surveillance" type of school
- PLCs with teachers are student learning, data driven. The conversations between teachers were good “WHY did that student’s scores go up? Did you have a conversation with them?” Conversations were about data and the next steps.
- Focusing on the growth of ALL students and that ALL students were included in the classroom - some with support, but it was clear Bridge supports ALL students in their journey.
- Data is obviously important at our school- you can’t personalize instruction without the data. Looking at what data is important and using that to leverage instruction.
- Student behaviors were being dealt with without distracting student learning.
- Not just relying on the computer-based programs but rather, using the data from the computer programs to drive instruction.
We LOVE sharing our unique model with others and are excited when schools show interest in adopting parts of our program as their own.
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 first Tuesday of the month, starting in October, we will 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.
Use the link below to complete the Tuesday Talk & Talent form. Videos, or links to videos if you use Vimeo or YouTube, must be emailed to Mrs. Rounds. Mrs. Rounds will notify you once the form is submitted, the video is verified, and a date is selected for the video to be shown during Tuesday Talk.
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!
Each week 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.
Next week students will learn about DETERMINATION - "OVERCOMING OBSTACLES IN ORDER TO REACH MY GOALS."
I Will -
- Set the right goals.
- Get moving.
- Face challenges.
- Not be discouraged by failure.
- Keep trying.
Please discuss these traits at home and help empower your children to take personal ownership and accountability for their own academic performance.
Rena Oliver - Lead Custodian & Maintenance
Hi my name is Rena Oliver. I am the Lead Custodian here at Bridge. I was born and raised in Illinois where all my family still resides. I moved to Utah in 2007. I have 4 kids - 3 girls and a boy. All are grown and married except one that will soon be 18 in December. I have 5 grandkids. I am a licensed contractor and love to paint and tile. I love to go to church and bible studies at Wasatch Cowboy Church. I also love camp, fly fish, ride 4 wheelers, take spontaneous road trips, ride my horses, and watch sunrises and sunsets!
My favorite part of my job at Bridge is interacting with the kids and learning how to fix things I have never fixed before. It is very satisfying to me when I don’t have to call another professional!
Cesar Ortiz - Custodian
My name is Cesar, and this is my second year at Bridge.I am a father of six and have twelve grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Before Bridge, I coached soccer and baseball for almost 20 years. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and watching sports. I really love my job as I feel that my work makes small positive differences in children's lives.
Sharon Feliciano - Custodian
Pama Wynn - Lunchroom Support
My name is Pama Wynn. I grew up in Sunset. I moved to Ogden (Historic 25th St.) with my husband of 32 yrs. We had one daughter, Lindsay Shay. She married Tyler Jones and has 3 children. My grandkids (who I live for) are Daniel Mark...Lou Daniel..and Elliott Lynn. My husband passed away in 2015. We then had a MIL apt built in Lindsay's basement...with 4 cats! :) I love being close to my grandkids. I work 5 minutes away at Bridge Elementary. I love it! Staff...Co workers...and the kids. Its great!
Michaela Page - Lunchroom Support
I am Michaela Page, I am 31 years old. I’ve been married for 6yrs. I was born in California and moved here in Utah. My favorite hobbies are singing and dancing.Disneyland is my favorite place. I love working here at Bridge Elementary with my work-mom, Rena. I am a hard worker and she is a good boss to me. At home I like to do word searches, clean the house and do yard work. I like shopping and buying new clothes. I love making new friends!
Brianna Williams - Lunchroom Support
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