Bridlemile Friday Flyer

12/23-1/3: WINTER BREAK

1/6: School Resumes

1/15: MESD Hearing & Vision Screening Grades K, 1 / 3rd Grade Vision Only

Dear Bridlemile Families,

As we wrap up 2024, I couldn’t be more proud of how much our Beagles have grown—both in knowledge and in character. It has been an absolute joy to watch their enthusiasm, creativity, and determination as they’ve taken on new challenges with such energy and joy. I feel so fortunate to be part of a community that fosters such growth, and I’m excited for what the new year will bring as we continue to learn and grow together.

After a well-deserved winter break, we’ll dive into new projects in January, including welcoming our Salmon in the Classroom, STEAM challenges, and more opportunities for our students to shine. There’s so much to look forward to, and I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things our Beagles will achieve in the months ahead.

Wishing you all a winter break full of rest, laughter, and cherished times with family and friends. Thank you for all your continued support. Rest up, and we’ll be ready to come back in January, eager for the adventures that await!

Sincerely,

Katherine

Bridlemile is working with PPS Transportation to ensure a safer drop-off and pick-up location for all students.

While we appreciate car drop off/pick up efforts to make a right turn out of the parking lot, we continue to have safety concerns with students crossing paths with cars.

Our new plan will address the need for our Special Education buses to be close to the building and also prioritize our students’ walking safety. It might even improve traffic flow!

Starting Monday, January 6th:

• Our six Special Education buses will be the only vehicles using the staff parking lot for drop off and pick up.

• Families dropping off and picking up students by car will follow a new designated route (see map below).

• Parents will drop off/pick up students at the stairs along 47th Dr., indicated by the orange star on the map. Follow the signs!

• We ask that once students are dropped off/picked up, that parents either proceed on 47th Dr. OR make a left turn up 45th Ave. to depart. As always, no U-turns.

• Staff will be on hand to help direct drivers through the first week!

• The staff parking lot will reopen for late drop offs after the Special Education mini-buses have departed at 8:05am.

• The staff parking lot will be closed in the afternoon from 2:00pm-2:35pm.

We are delighted to highlight Beagles who embody our community value of the month. The month of December is all about Appreciation. Students who demonstrate Appreciation actively recognize and express thankfulness for what they have and the kindness and kind actions of others.

Librarians Ms. Arick and Ms. Wick planned a fun school-wide reading challenge, and Beagles responded! Over 200 books were read during the month-long reading event!

To celebrate everyone’s achievement, several readers were chosen to silly string Principal Hu including Ms. Hales, whose 3rd grade class had the highest reading contributions!

Great job reading, Beagles! Be sure your Beagles have something to read over the winter break!

https://youtu.be/dDT4UW_VvLk

We made it to Winter break! There is always a lot of excitement and energy around a long break, whatever the reason. And sometimes, we also need to add in some calm moments as well. The counseling team has a calming activity for you to try when the holidays start to feel overwhelming for you or your student:

Free Online Sand Tray by Dr Karen Fried

The counseling team hopes you have a wonderful winter break filled with rest, joy, and rejuvenation. We’re all looking forward to spending time with our families and friends and can’t wait to see students back at school in the new year!

CLICK HERE for more information on food pantries in Southwest Portland.

Please note an important change to our attendance process. To enhance our focus on student safety, automated attendance calls through Remind will now begin at 9:30 AM instead of 10:30 AM. To avoid receiving a call, please report your child's absence to the school before 9:30 AM. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Family and Teacher TAG referral window is now open and will remain open until January 10th, 2025. The goal of this second referral round is to identify students who may not have been referred during the Fall data-driven referral window. This includes but is not limited to, those students in K-2 who do not participate in MAP and OSAS testing, as well as those in 3-5 for whom computer-based assessments present a roadblock in demonstrating their academic level and need. Families of 2nd grade students who have scored at or above the 95th percentile on the screening assessment for intellectual giftedness (called NNAT) will be notified in January 2025 that their student will be evaluated for TAG identification based on that assessment.

The referral process this year has changed from previous years. Families interested in referring their student for TAG should contact their classroom teacher during this window to discuss their student’s needs. Teachers submitting a referral will complete a reflection about their experience with the student in the classroom and consider several things, including:

• How quickly does this student master new concepts and skills?

• Is the student providing insights and thinking about topics in a way that is different from most students?

• In what ways (if any) does the teacher already need to differentiate for this student to support their success?

Once this reflection is completed, additional work samples and assessment data will be collected before the Bridlemile TAG team meets to make a final decision. Once a decision is reached, parents will be informed via email, prior to April 24, 2025.

The TAG website has more information on evaluation and identification, TAG services, and opportunities for parents to provide input and feedback through the TAG Advisory Council (TAGAC).

Please stop by and check our Lost and Found! We will be donating all unclaimed Lost and Found items to the PPS Clothing Closet in January. Putting your Beagle’s name on clothing is the best way to reunite items.

We will be donating the unclaimed lost and found items to the PPS Clothing Closet at the end of January.

Grow Portland is participating in Willamette Week's Give!Guide through the end of the year. This funding will support sustainable hands-on programming at our 17 partner schools, including yours! Please consider donating if you are able (a small amount goes a long way), and thanks for spreading the word. You can click here to donate by 12/31!

Bridlemile Garden Newsletter Dec 2024

Kindergarten Teacher Ms. Corbett got married over the weekend!

We are so excited and thrilled for the happy couple!

This week’s PTA Newsletter includes reminders and details about:

• Final week of the Columbia Sportswear Fundraiser (now through 12/27)
• Yoga After-School Program (1/7 through 3/8)

Read the newsletter here.

This is a great time for girls to get ready for the upcoming spring softball season. Never played before? No problem. This is also a chance to try a new sport!

Who: Girls, age 6-14-years old (birth years 2010-2018)
Where: Middleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) Sportsplex Bubble – 6651 SW Capitol Hwy

When: Sundays – 12-2pm on 1/12, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9

Cost: $10/player per session.

More information about the clinics can be found at the SWPLL website here.

Camps, Classes, & After School Programs:

• Cognizart 31st Annual Young Artists Debut! Concert & Showcase (apply by Jan. 21)

Summer Camps:

• Cognizart 360Arts Summer Camps (Jul. 7-11, 14-18, & 21-25).

Vaccinations, Health & Wellness:

Parkrose Student Health Center OPEN over Winter Break (Dec. 23 - Jan. 4)

Questions, comments or feedback about this newsletter? Email us at

Bridlemile-Office@pps.net.