Bridger Creative Science News

Happy October, BCSS!

Things are in full swing at BCSS, and it has been a wonderful start to the year. The school is alive with learning in every corner! This week, among the highlights of my week was getting to see what our fourth graders were up to, including practicing for the upcoming musical performance and some super cool owl pellet dissections. We also launched some of our midlevel affinity spaces this week, and our first graders held a community picnic with their families!

I wanted to take a moment to share about our new Social Emotional Learning Curriculum, Wayfinder, and the six core social-emotional skills we're working on schoolwide to support a safe and supportive environment for all of our students and staff. BCSS is using Wayfinder in all of our classrooms in grades K-8 to build community and grow in our social emotional skills. Wayfinder includes short activities, lessons and workbooks for students, as well as assessments to help track students' development in the six core social emotional skills. These skills align with those identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and are:

• Self Awareness: You understand yourself on many levels, from how you function to what nourishes and sustains you.
• Purpose: Your decisions and interactions with the world are guided by a deep connection to your values.
• Adaptability: You are willing to try again when you make mistakes and are comfortable navigating uncertain situations with flexibility and openness.
• Agency: You understand the value of your voice and seek opportunities to support and advance your communities.
• Collaboration: You are a relationship-builder who actively partners with others and facilitates belonging efforts across communities.
• Empathy: You are in tune with the feelings and needs of others and willing to act for a common good.

You can learn more about how Wayfinder has been rolled out in other districts and schools here.

Finally, I'd like to share our school's Structured Recess Policy. There have been some questions recently about structured recess and when and how it is used and what it entails. The purpose of a structured recess is to provide a student with an opportunity to reflect and/or connect with an adult around a concerning or persistent behavior that is interfering with their own or others' learning. It is a part of our progressive discipline policy. Structured recess can be assigned by teachers or administrators, as outlined below:

Teacher-Assigned Structured Recess

• Can be 1-7 minutes long

• Students can choose to walk and talk with a teacher or sit on a bench or at a table to reflect (teachers have the option to assign a think sheet). Students are not socializing with peers during this time.

Admin-Assigned Structured Recess

• Will be for a full recess

• Is in response to a Stage 2/3 referral

• Students can choose to walk and talk with a teacher, sit on a bench or at a table to reflect, or to come to the office for recess. Students are not socializing with peers during this time.

Have a wonderful weekend. Remember that we have picture day with Holland Studios on Thursday the 10th and no school on Friday the 11th!

Kindly,

Tarehna Wicker

Pronouns: she/her

Principal: Bridger Creative Science School

Email: twicker@pps.net Phone: 503-916-6431 Cell: 971-895-2091

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.

October 9th Walk n Roll to school Day

October 10th Thursday School Photo Day

October 11th No School Statewide Inservice Day

School Photos Thursday October 10th. We will be using Holland Studios for our student photos this year. They do not send out pre order packages. Expect to see order information after picture day.

Are you looking for a way to help students in our community? SMART Reading is looking for Volunteer Readers to read with kindergarten through third grade students at Bridger Creative Science School. This volunteer position is a great way to get involved and help kids get excited about reading! If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please visit https://smartreading.org/volunteer/ or call 971-634-1628.