Bridges Community School

Bridges Breeze

10/25/2024

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News and Updates

Principal Update

The weather has started to feel a little more like fall! Please start sending layers of clothing as temperatures change throughout the school day. We take a couple of outdoor breaks and we go out in all temperatures! There is also a lot of clothing starting to accumulate in the lost and found. If you are missing any items, please check the lost and found found right inside door 1 by the gymasium!

Retake photograph's will be on Tuesday, Nov. 5. We will also have a whole school photo taken. Please notify the office or the classroom teacher if your child will be having retakes done. We have a list of students that missed the fall photograph that will have pictures taken for the yearbook.

This week was a big week to begin conversations about Bridges Community School and planning to add a focus with Global Studies. Our current Core Knowledge curriculum lends itself to a wonderful starting place. We look forward to having our teams work on the next steps of our global studies focus for fall 2025-26.

Working Together, Mrs. Rittmiller

Honoring Our Veterans

Our Bridges PBIS team is inviting Veterans to our all school meeting on Fri, Nov 8th from 8:30-8:50 am. We are putting together a slideshow to honor them.

If you would like to honor someone in your family during the slideshow, please fill out this form:

https://forms.gle/mtdrzTmW5xBoPjtG8

You Matter!! 10/22/24

Isabelle N. - K, Pixie M. - K, Parker S. - 1, Adam K. - 1, Brea B. - 2, Lincoln P. - 2, Thora M. - 3, Bayleigh Z. - 3, Veda R. - 4, Lochlan M. - 4, Maci W. - 5, Amy C. - 5

You Matter! 10/15/22

Eleanor W. - K, Garrison R. - K, Avari F. - 1, Isaac K. - 1, Isabelle K. - 2, Brooklyn D. - 2, Oliver J. - 3, Aiden C. - 3, Liam C. - 4, Nikolaus C. - 5, Helen Z. - 5

Mrs. Schwamberger Matters! - DAPE

Mrs. Schwamberger is most excited about working at Bridges this year to continue to grow relationships with students and watch them reach their goals. She hopes to teach a few more kids how to ride a bike too! Outside of school she loves to ride her bike and go camping with her family!

Mr. Mark Matters! Daytime Custodian

Mr. Mark enjoys working with all of the staff at Bridges! Outside of work, he loves to tinker with projects.

Ms. Ankrum Matters! Grade 5 Teacher

Ms. Ankrum is the most excited this year to be at Bridges with all of the kind students. Outside of work she loves crocheting.

Mrs. Sarah Matters! Paraprofessional

Mr. Sarah enjoys working at a neighborhood school by her home. Outside of work, she loves the outdoors, especially camping!

DIBELS Data for Family

Parents and Guardians,

We hope this letter finds you well as we near the end of October. We are pleased to inform you of a significant update regarding your child's academic progress as we continue to enhance our communication and streamline access to important information.

We will continue our work to inform you when recent data has been updated in the Infinite Campus parent portal throughout the year. Your child's DIBELS fall assessment results are now available for you to view under the student test detail tab.

Simply log in to your parent portal account using your credentials to access your child's DIBELS data in Infinite Campus. Click here for a complete set of directions to help walk you through the process. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's school If you encounter any difficulties or have questions about accessing or interpreting the data.

We believe we can strengthen the partnership between home and school to ensure academic success of our shared students by communicating and making DIBELS data readily available on Infinite Campus.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child's education. Mr. Tyson Walker

Conferences and Progress Report Update for 2024-25

MAPS elementary schools will be changing the timing of Progress Reports to increase the frequency of scheduled communication with families about student achievement. Starting in the fall of 2024, Progress Reports will occur at different times than Parent Teacher Conferences. Parent Teacher Conferences will continue to be held in November and March, and Progress Reports will be completed in January and June. This change will provide an opportunity for families to receive communication four times during the school year, and families will have an understanding of their child’s progress at the end of the school year.

Families will be able to see their child’s progress report through the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. If families are unable to access their child’s progress report online, they can request a paper copy by contacting the office at their child’s school.

2024-2025 Dates for Conferences and Progress Reports

November 2024 Parent-Teacher Conferences

January 29, 2025 Progress Reports

March 2025 Parent-Teacher Conferences

June 10, 2025 Progress Reports

Special Education teachers will report progress toward IEP goals and objectives in January and June, following the same timeline and frequency as general education reporting.

*Monday, Oct. 28, the PTC fast link will be available. There will also be an option to conference with specialists this year if you are interested.

All School Meetings

We have All School Meetings on Fridays during the school year starting in the gym at 8:30 am. Parents/guardians are invited to attend. We discuss our life skill, have spotted awards and many times there is an interactive game or speaker. We will begin student talents on Oct. 25. Students can let their teacher and Ms. Robinson know in the office so we can get it scheduled. If your student needs anything besides a microphone, keyboard or mats, please be in touch with the teacher. This is a wonderful way to feature our students.

***Also, if you have Bridges Gear that is too small and in good condition and you are willing to share it with students that are in need, please drop it off in the office. Thanks!

Focus Schools Update

I’m excited to share an update on our focus school decisions following the recent school board work session. We provided an overview of our progress and received strong support to move forward with Bridges Community School (Global Studies), Jefferson Elementary (Outdoor/Nature-Based), and Rosa Parks (STEAM).

Over the past few weeks, we’ve gathered valuable input from families, staff, and district leaders, which has been the cornerstone of the changes we’ll implement next year.

Moving forward, our site teams will engage in the next steps of the process of identifying curricular resources, determining our delivery model, and defining daily/unit schedules. Additionally, our school teams and district administration will conduct site visits to existing focus schools across the state to inform our process. We also have teams working through the logistics of enrollment, transportation, and more. Families will have opportunities for informational sessions about their school focus at dates yet to be determined.

Further updates will continue to be shared through our SMORE newsletter as well as the district SMORE newsletter.

BAC ANNOUNCEMENTS

We have monthly site council meetings and there is a placeholder for parents to have open chair conversations. The first 15 minutes of each meeting will be designated "open chair" during which any non-council parent, student or staff member by request may address the Council to state briefly his/her opintion(s) or concern(s). Any constituent wishing to present during "open chair" must contact the facilitator and fill out a request in writing prior to the start of the Site Council Meeting. Our next site council meeting will be Monday, Dec. 16 from 3-4 pm.

BAC Email/Bridges Family Directory Sign Up

Each year, BAC updates the email list to current families only. Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/nroMgmadFMNDUoMZ6 if you haven't done so.

Bridges Bond Construction Update

We are all moved into the new office. There are a few things that are still be completed but door 1 is the main entrance and the only entrance with a buzzer for families to drop off and pick up during the school day! It is wonderful to have a new space!

***The entrance to door 1 is unlocked on school days. Once you enter the building, please push the blue button to be let into the office, to check in with the secretary and to go to the room you are going.

If you are dropping off items during the school day, please enter door 1 and the secretary will ensure your student gets the item (lunch, jacket, etc).

Mental Health Hub

The Greater Mankato Mental Health Hub has launched! This hub was developed by Greater Mankato Area United Way's Youth Mental Health/Suicide Prevention Committee and is hosted by the Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

The hub is meant to be a tool for parents and caregivers to easily find information on crisis support, local mental health services, parent education, and more.

Find more information HERE.

Save the Date!

October:

Oct. 28 - BAC Meeting (6:30)

November:

Nov. 4 - Stuff-A-Truck Begins (11/4-11/21)

Nov. 5 - General Election (No Evening Activities) GO VOTE!

Nov. 5 - Picture Retake Day/Class Pictures/Whole School Photo

Nov. 11 - No School/Prep Day for Teachers

Nov. 13 - 2 Hour Early Release (12:50)

Nov. 14 - Conferences (3:20-8:30)

Nov. 19 - Conferences (3:20-8:30)

Nov. 21 - Conferences (3:20-7:00)

Looking for a Recess/Cafeteria Supervisor & Resource Paraprofessional

Our team of caring, passionate, and committed professionals wants you! Applying for available positions is simple, fast and secure. Our online application system allows you to start and save an application, submitting it when you are sure that it’s complete. We have current openings as a resource paraprofessional and a lunchroom/recess supervisor for 2 hours a day!

Find your next career here in MAPS!