Bridges Breeze

Friday, August 30, 2024

A Note from Mrs. Rittmiller

Bridges Families -

We were thrilled to have our staff back in the building this week! Wednesday night was an amazing night with our ice cream social at Wheeler Park. It was fantastic to see many familiar faces welcome new families and students to our amazing Bridges Community! We look forward to seeing you at entrance conferences on Tuesday, September 3rd and Wednesday, September 4th. Please have your school picture taken before or after your conference. The photographer will be located on the stage in the auditorium located by door #2.

Our first All School Meeting will take place in October. We will send more information out closer to that date.

A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers and BAC Exec who dedicated their time and energy to make the event such a success. Your efforts truly made the event a special evening for everyone! Here's to a great school year ahead!

Drop Off and Pick Up Information

Drop Off - between 7:55-8:10 am

Please drop off your student/s on the west side of the school (playground end) between 7:55-8:10 am. We take attendance at 8:20.

Pick Up - 2:50 PM

Please pick up your student/s on the west side of the building (by the playground) at 2:50 PM. Your student/s will be in line with the homeroom teacher to make contact with you! Once your student sees you, they will let their teacher know and we will dismiss!

Picking Up Your Child During the School Day: If you need to pick up your child before the end of the school day, please contact the school office prior to your arrival. We will get your child ready to go. When you arrive, you can either call the office to ask for someone to walk your child out to you, or you can ring the buzzer at the front door and wait for your child to meet you there.

Attendance: Please call the school office at (507)387-2800 if your child is sick or is going to miss school.

Medication: If your child needs to take, or keep, medication at school, please contact our Health Assistant, Mrs. Kelly. We are not allowed to give medication at school without the appropriate documentation from a physician.

Back to School Information

2024-2025 Student Calendar

Nutrition Services Information

2024-2025 Educational Benefits Application is HERE

School Breakfast and Lunch Menus can be found on Schoolcafe.

Click on the Schoolcafe Menus.

1. Click on "View Menus (as a guest)."
2. Select Daily, Weekly or Monthly along the top header
3. Select the School and Meal Type from the drop-down options.

Construction Progress

The old office has been rebuilt to be a fabulous special education classroom ready for this fall 2024. We will have a temporary office and health office across from the old office to begin this school year. Please use door #2 to enter the building until the new office is complete.

Choice Schools

Bridges is continuing to dream about Bridges 2.0. Rosa Parks and Jefferson Elementary Schools will be joining us in becoming choice schools for the 2024-25 school year.

What is a “choice” school? A school choice is a program or policy that allows students to attend a school other than their assigned public school. "Choice" schools have a specialized focus or theme.

What will be different next year? While we are always reflecting to improve our practices from year to year, we will be thinking through what is working and what else would make Bridges an attractive school for students, families and staff. We will begin to develop our plan to be ready to execute and implement at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

Will there be an additional "theme" for Bridges? This is still undecided. We may expand what we are currently doing or add a "theme."

Why more "choice" schools in MAPS? During Classroom to Boardroom sessions and input given last year from staff, families and our community, data suggested families desire for choice in education.

Will families have an opportunity to give input? Yes, please provide your feedback in this survey: https://forms.gle/fLgSMVAkS1avei7U6 (This was also sent to families in our Parent Portal through Infinite Campus). If you need access to a computer, you can stop by the office during entrance conferences to complete this survey.

Our goal is to keep everyone informed as we navigate this process. One of the best ways for you to stay informed will be to read The Bridges Breeze newsletters sent out twice a month as well as communications from Mankato Area Public Schools.

Bridges Advisory Council Updates:

School Supplies & Snack Cart

BAC Asks for a Suggested Donation at Entrance Conferences

To help relieve some of the back-to-school stress, BAC has traditionally taken care of school supplies and snack cart purchases. Your student will receive everything they need (besides backpacks and gym shoes) for the year at entrance conferences. Families are asked to contribute when they come to their entrance conference: a suggested fee will be shared with you soon and, as every year, there will be a suggested maximum per family. Families may also contribute towards Being There Experiences (field trips) at that time.

5th Grade Field Trip Fundraiser

Pampered Chef Fundraiser is on through September 8th

If you are looking to update your cookware or purchase gifts for your loved ones, look no further: Pampered Chef will donate 30% from each sale to Bridges Advisory Committee, to be used towards the 5th grade field trip to Northern Minnesota. The link is here: https://www.pamperedchef.com/party/bridgesschool2024 The fundraiser runs through the end of August and items will be shipped to the buyer's address anywhere in the United States.

Family Directory & Email List

Coming Soon!

At the beginning of each year, BAC updates the contact list for all Bridges families so we can ensure that everyone who opts receives information about events, fundraisers, volunteer opportunities, and more. Families will be able to enter their information starting around the picnic time. We'll provide QR codes in person and send emails to our current list. Some other communication changes will be coming up, which include newsletters with graphics. Families who no longer attend Bridges will have an opportunity to add their contact to a separate email list so we can reach out and share information about events, volunteer needs, or other opportunities that might interest them.

BAC Website & Social Media

BAC/Bridges now has a website. There's still work in progress, but you'll be able to find an event and other information here: https://bridgesbears.weebly.com/

If you are not following us on social media, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/BridgesAdvisoryCommittee

Angie Dorn and Ines Wingert

Co-Presidents

BAC - Bridges Advisory Committee

Find us on Facebook |

Click here for past Meeting Minutes

September 3 and 4 - Entrance Conferences and Student Photographs

September 5 - First Day of School

September 16 - BAC fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings (11am-11pm)

September 18 - Early Out at 12:50

September 22 - 5th grade carwash fundraiser (1-5pm)

Septmeber 23 - BAC meeting (6:30-7:30 pm) in Bridges media center

Student reports are live in Infinite Campus.

Student reports are live in Infinite Campus.

What does this mean? You can access your student's test data from the parent portal anytime you log in. Data is updated throughout the year as testing windows close and data is final. Local and State Assessments that your child has taken throughout their time MAPs, are readily accessible as well as available for you to download and print. Please read the following document and video to see how to access your student’s data.