Principal Chat
Happy Friday - seems like just yesterday I typed those same words. Next week is a very short week at school - just three days. One of those days will include holiday-fun activities with most grades having a party or fun activity planned. Wednesday is NOT an early out and there will be BASE on that day.
LOCK DOWN DRILL - We are required to have a safety drill every month. Mrs. Tucker, our assistant principal, is our "Safety Coordinator" and makes sure we are following the state requirements. This month we had a "Locks Lights Out of Sight" drill. Everyone hates these drills - including administration and teachers. Kids call it a "Bad Guy Drill". At Bridge, we try to make these drills as anxiety-free as possible while still ensuring our kids and staff know what to do in the event we have a dangerous situation at school. Our recent drill was successful and the necessary feedback was provided to staff so they will know what to do in the future.
PETS IN OFFICE - We LOVE pets, but PLEASE, unless it is a necessary service animal, leave your animals at home. The other day we had several dogs in the office and they did NOT enjoy each other's company. We want to keep our kids safe and also ensure your animals are safe as well.
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 KINDERGARTEN teachers!
FREE JANUARY MATIAL ARTS - The sign up for FREE martial arts in January, offered through Joeson Martial Arts, is ready. See further below in the newsletter for the information.
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 help influence your child's inner dialogue to help build their self-esteem and resilience.
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
- December 19 - January 5 (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
- Student Intent to Return to Bridge - December 9 - January 3
- December 18 - "EllaMental" play for 4th - 6th grade
- Lottery Opens for 2025-2026 School Year - January 6
- Sibling, Staff and Military Lottery for 2025-2026 - January 27
- 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
As a school of choice, Bridge recognizes our model is not the right fit for every child. Some children thrive in the collaborative learning pod experience complete with multiple transitions daily, while 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 child. 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.
Providing learners with appropriate and timely support to achieve growth or competency is one of the strengths of Bridge's learning model. These customized supports are based on data about the learner's demonstrated strengths, interests and needs and include:
- Adaptive computer aided instructional support (CAIS)
- Small group instruction
- P90 reading
- WIN time (What I Need)
- I & E (Interventions and Extensions)
- HOP (Help on Progress for math)
The FREE monthly martial arts class, offered by Master Jason of Joeson Martial Arts, will begin again in January. Students (up to 20) can enroll for either the Tuesday or the Thursday class. This class is 4:45 - 5:30 pm. Students who attend BASE will remain in the gym after BASE dinner to stay for martial arts. Students who do not attend BASE will enter the gym through the south gate and the south gym doors.
Use the link below to sign up your student(s).
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050849ACA62AA3FB6-53586570-free
Sadly, it is that time of year when our air quality takes a nose dive! We check the Utah Air Quality website for Weber County, prior to recess to determine if students need to remain inside. If the color is ORANGE, then sensitive students need to remain inside.
PLEASE let your child's teacher know if your child has issues that impact their health on bad air days. If the color is RED, then ALL students must remain inside.
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 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.
We will NOT have a Tuesday Talk in January. Our next one will be Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
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!
This week our students got to try broccoli florets, sweet lines and a variety of grape tomato called, Scarlett Pearl.
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!
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 review the six Visible Learning Traits.
Please discuss these traits at home and help empower your children to take personal ownership and accountability for their own academic performance.
Mandee Call
I have six daughters, three cats, and two dogs. So, my life is pretty busy! My favorite thing to do is travel to fun new places with my family. We also love to play board games, paint rocks, go hiking, and going swimming. In the summer if we aren't in the water we are probably at Lagoon or visiting family in other states.
Angie Eschler
Hello my name is Angela Eschler and this is my fifth year teaching kindergarten at Bridge Elementary and I LOVE it. Five and 6 year olds are my favorite people! When I’m not at school I love being with my family. I have a wonderful husband named Ed and 3 sons, one daughter and one pretty daughter in law. I’m so happy to be part of the Bridge team
Crislen Osborn
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