Bridger Creative Science News

Dear BCSS Community,

As we plan for the 2024-25 school year, I want to share some important updates about our staffing and class sizes. Like many schools, we are making adjustments due to budget constraints, and while we’ve worked hard to minimize the impact on students, there will be some changes.

• K-5 Class Structure: We will be moving to two sections per grade level in K-5. This means that class sizes in grades 3 and 4 are projected to be over 30 students. K-5 classroom staffing is directly tied to enrollment and is allocated separately from all other staffing decisions. Families can learn more about how the PPS budget process works by visiting the PPS Budget website.
• Middle School Staffing: 6-8 staffing will remain steady, maintaining our current structure.
• Instructional Support Changes: Our Instructional Coach position will be reduced from 1.0 FTE to 0.5 FTE, but we will continue to have a full-time Reading Interventionist to support students.
• Behavior and Climate Support: We are adding a 0.5 School Climate Specialist and a Behavior Intervention Specialist to strengthen student behavior support across all grade levels.
• PFSP Staffing: There will be no changes to our Administrative Assistants and Educational Assistants staffing.

These shifts reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting students while navigating limited resources. However, state funding for schools remains inadequate, and we encourage our community to advocate for stronger investment in education. If you have concerns about school funding and class sizes, please share your thoughts with the PPS Board and consider reaching out to state legislators.

To help, PPS has created an Advocacy Toolkit, which you can find here: Advocacy Toolkit

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to create the best possible learning environment for our students.

In community,
Tarehna Wicker
Principal, BCSS

Kindly,

Tarehna Wicker

March celebrates Women's History

March 10 Site Council 4:45-5:45

March 11 Mid Level Early Release 3:15

Black Family Wellness Expo - Saturday 3-15-25. Link to free eventbrite tickets

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-family-wellness-expo-tickets-1141695986429?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please join us on March 11 from 6:30-8:00 PM for food and games in the cafeteria. This is for all students who identify as LGBTQ+ and their caregivers! We'd love to see you there!

Hello Bridger Creative Science school families and community! We want to introduce you to the health room staff at your school. Effy Reavis is the School Health Assistant. She is in the health room every day caring for sick and injured students, administering medications, and providing a safe and welcoming space with lots of TLC. Phoenix Blickle is the school nurse. They are available by phone every day and are at Bridger about once a week. Phoenix provides case management for students with ongoing medical conditions, major injuries, and head injuries, trains staff in responding to potential medical emergencies, and provides health resources and advocacy.

It's a pleasure to care for your children! Please reach out if you have any questions.

The Regional Chess tournament was held on Saturday March 1st. Bridger Creative Science school team received second place, earning the right to participate in the Oregon State Tournament in April.

2nd grader Jayden Katayama won all of his games to take first place, 5th grader Eli Brenner took second place, and Shokei Katayama took third place.

In the 2000-2025 Time Capsule there was a certificate and letter from Make A Wish Foundation. Students at the time raised $402 for children with serious illnesses, and now we’re continuing the legacy! There are several ways for the community to get involved. Each class has a coin jar, there is an online donation site, and a car raffle. Our fundraising goal is $1000 - and wouldn’t it be fun to raise $2050!! Please consider making a donation that is right for you! No amount is too small (or too large)! This is a great opportunity to talk with your students about giving back and philanthropy.

• Contribute to the coin jar in your class!

• Contribute online via our BCSS Time Capsule 2050 Make A Wish page.

• Enter the Wish Upon A Car raffle! (different link!)

• The car raffle is for adults 18+.

• Be sure to credit our campaign, Bridger Creative Science School Time Capsule.

• Note: You must physically be in OR when you purchase your raffle ticket. This is for purchase of raffle tickets only.

Help our school earn Plastic film pickups for next school year '25/'26 LINK

Register Here

Thursdays

April 10 - June 5

3:15-4:15

9 classes

$216

Register HERE!

Is your child interested in participating in Track and Field?

If so, we’ve got you covered! Below is a link to our PIL website’s Youth tab, where you can find all the information you need about spring sports for middle school students in your cluster. On this page, you’ll find flyers with details on how to register, documents needed to participate, how to pay and important dates about when/where practice is.

Season is from March 10th to May 10th

Registration closes on March 21st

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the District Athletic Office by email at dbookout@pps.net or by phone at 503-916-3223.

We look forward to seeing your child on the field this spring!

PIL ATHLETICS WEBSITE - YOUTH TAB

Thank you, GO PIL!

For families who have incoming siblings next year...

* Determine whether you live within the current neighborhood boundary, which changed in 2023. You can enter your address at PPS School Finder to check.

* If you live within the BCSS neighborhood attendance area - you do not need to enter the lottery. Kindergarten registration is now open! Please register as soon as possible.

* If you live outside the neighborhood attendance area - apply through the PPS Lottery and make sure to indicate that there is a sibling currently attending BCSS. The lottery is open now and closes March 12 (This includes people who live in the previous, larger Bridger boundary, but outside of the new boundary.)

We love when BCSS students ride their bikes to school, and we want to make sure that all kids’ bikes are secure on campus. Please bring a bike lock and secure your child’s bike to one of the staple racks on campus.

Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe!