Bridge Bulletin

Buddy the Elf has visited Bridge a few times this past week and he brought a smile to several faces! Hopefully his presence in the parking lot will remind everyone to not only be happy during drop off but also to slow down, be observant, be patient and remember syrup on spaghetti is yummy!

6th GRADE PARENTS - now is the time to start thinking about junior high for next school year. District schools begin registration for classes after the new year and charter schools start lottery enrollment as well. There are several nearby charter schools, some that even go through high school, that may fit your student's needs. If you are interested in a charter school for junior high, call them and set up a tour. If you are leaning towards the traditional district option, please call your neighborhood school to find out when registration begins so your student can select their classes and you have all the information.

• Venture Academy (Farr West)
• Utah Military Academy (Riverdale)
• Quest Academy (West Haven)
• Syracuse Arts Academy (Syracuse)
• Ogden Prep Academy (Ogden)
• DaVinci Academy (Ogden)
• North Davis Prep Academy (Layton)
• Highmark Charter School (South Weber)

This week we highlight our amazing 2nd grade teachers -Mrs. Westergard, Mrs. Lindsey and Ms. Vigil. Please read our STAFF HIGHLIGHTS below about these amazing ladies and all the great things they do for our 2nd grade kiddos at Bridge.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

NO SCHOOL

• December 18 - Jan. 1 (Christmas Break)
• January 15 (Martin Luther King Day)
• February 2 (Legislative Day - Teacher Professional Development)
• February 19 (President's Day)
• March 7 and 8 (Parent Teacher Conferences)
• April 1 - 8 (Spring Break)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• December 15: $2 Donation Dress Down
• January 23: Math Night FREE Dinner 6:00 - 7:30 pm
• March 6 - 8: Parent Teacher Conferences

Please keep reading for more information about this past week and events for the upcoming weeks.

As always, thank you for CHOOSING Bridge and sharing your kids with us! We know you have lots of options in education and we are honored that you have made the choice to have your students attend our awesome school!

Lani Rounds

Principal

Each grade at Bridge attends writing specials - some classes attend writing twice weekly and some classes attend writing three times each week. During writing specials, our writing teacher, Mrs. Langhaim teaches our students about the conventions of writing. She works with them to form correct sentences, paragraphs, and with the older students, essays and reports.

Three times each year students in grades 3 - 6 complete a writing assessment using Utah Compose and their score is entered on the student's progress report. At the end of the school year our 5th grade students participate in Utah's RISE writing test.

Writing is a critical piece of a child's instruction and cannot be taught in isolation. To ensure this doesn't happen, Mrs. Langhaim collaborates with classroom teachers and other specialists so the writing conventions she teaches are integrated into the other content taught in the classroom. The results are students writing across the curriculum.

As an example, in 1st grade students discuss background knowledge to learn new things. This week students talked about snow globes, watched a little short film about a deer in a snow globe and then wrote about "If I were stuck in a snow globe I would..." and finished the sentence and then drew a picture to support the sentence.

During 5th grade science, students learned about Neap Tides - when the sun and the moon have opposing gravitational pulls and it results in wimpy high and low tides. - then students wrote about these tides in their science journals.

Beginning February, Joeseon Martial Arts will begin renting our gym for their martial arts program. This provides a nice chunk of cash to Bridge but, additionally, they will be teaching two BASE classes each week - one on Tuesday and one on Thursday. Each grade will have an opportunity to attend the class each month. This was so well received when Champion martial arts provided us this opportunity we are really excited to be able to continue this for our BASE students. The schedule of which grade is attending martial arts each week for BASE is on our calendar. You can access our calendar from our webpage by selecting the CALENDAR icon.

Additionally, Joeseon Martial Arts have extended an offer to all Bridge students and students of Bridge staff. "Bridge students or staff who sign up in December, will get January tuition for free. The enrollment fee is $229 and will include everything needed to get started. Uniform, belt, T-shirt, gloves, USA taekwondo. Then in February tuition is $99 for one student and custom for two or more. They get $79 off the enrollment fee and $36 off each month thereafter, NO contracts."

Use this link for information to inquire about the program

https://linqapp.com/Joseon_Martial_Arts?r=link

To sign up please contact Master Jason 801-436-8298 or jason@utmac.org

On Friday, December 1, we sent an email regarding your intent for your student to return to Bridge next school year. It sounds crazy that it's only December and you need to think about August already; however, our lottery will open after the new year and we need to know how many spots are available to the general public.

First, we fill the spots with the current students who intend to return. Then, we fill the spots with their siblings, including their new kindergarten siblings. Finally, we open the remaining spots to the public. Unfortunately, if you do NOT complete the necessary steps to re-enroll your student, your spot will be given away. This process takes about 15 minutes to complete all of the steps and forms to re-enroll your student at Bridge for next year. THANK YOU if you have already completed this process! PLEASE, if you want your child to return to Bridge next school year, do this today if you have been dragging your feet.

Procrastinators WILL be sent a couple of emails and a phone call or two, but then, we have to give up at some point and assume you don't want your student to return to Bridge - that's when the spot is put back into the general lottery. This happens on January 21.

PLEASE check to see that Aspire has your correct email as that is how you receive the intent to return information as well as how you register for the upcoming school year. If you do NOT intend for your students to return to Bridge next school year, the INTENT TO RETURN email also has a link to a form for you to complete.

CALL THE OFFICE IF YOU NEED HELP WITH REGISTRATION OR ASPIRE (801)499-5180

OR EMAIL LALANI WILLIAMS LWILLIAMS@BRIDGECHARTER.ORG

This week's fresh fruit and vegetable program brought our students figs, Granny Smith apples, mandarin oranges (clementines) and sweet cherries. While the majority of kiddos LOVED the apples, oranges and the cherries, the figs had mixed reviews with most students giving them a thumbs down. However, without this program most of our students would never have the chance to try a fresh fig.

We are super grateful to have this program at Bridge.This program is designed to give kids the opportunity to try fresh fruits and vegetables that they may otherwise not have an opportunity to try.

Lori Vigil has been a 2nd grade teacher at Bridge since it opened its doors in 2020. She realized her love for teaching while working as a computer teacher and substitute with Davis School District. She then earned a teaching degree through Western Governors University. When she is not teaching 2nd grade, she enjoys spending time hiking, reading, traveling, and hanging out with her family and friends.

I have been teaching second grade for 4 years now as a Bullfrog and I look forward to many more years of teaching. In 2020 I graduated from Weber State University with my Bachelors in Elementary Education and a level 2 Math Endorsement. When I'm not at school I enjoy learning new skills. Currently, I'm learning how to crochet. I love the sunshine and being outside. During the summer break I enjoy camping, paddle boarding, and visiting Bear Lake as much as possible.

I am Susan Lindsey and a second grade teacher. I love teaching second graders! They are so eager and loving! I love teaching at Bridge where every child is celebrated and their learning is the goal of our school. I started at Bridge when the doors opened 4 years ago. I am so grateful for this charter and the amazing learning opportunities we give to children to grow and improve in their education. I love the one on one PLP meetings where I get to know my students and to help them meet goals. I previously taught second grade at another charter school.

I am the lucky mom of 1 daughter and 2 sons and grandma of 8 awesome kids ranging from 2 years to 16 years. I love every minute that I get to spend with my family. I am an avid trainer and competitor of barrel racing horses. We got our first horses when I was 2 years old and I have never looked back. I grew up in Pleasant View where we were able to ride in the mountains. I have lived in the areas of Pleasant View and West Haven my entire life.

I love my job and spending the day with amazing kids!

Each week students attend a Visible Learning class where they learn about traits of a good learner. Next week students will review the six Visible Learning Traits.

• Initiative
• Flexibility
• Reflection
• Determination
• Thoroughness
• Enthusiasm

By using these visible learning traits each day students will become lifelong learners who are set up for success. Please use this same verbiage at home and recognize when your student is using this trait.

Although we have had the visitor check in system since the beginning of September, some parents seem to have not received the information. When you visit Bridge to volunteer or have a meeting with your child's teacher, including a PLP meeting or an IEP meeting during school hours, you MUST bring a valid state ID and scan it into our check in system. The system will complete a background check to ensure the individual is allowed to be on the campus of an elementary school. If the the individual does not pass the background check the child's teacher can come to the office for the meeting. This is just one more step in protecting the safety of all our students.

The calendar for the school year can be accessed on our website using the link below:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/2023-2024-calendar

We LOVE parent and grand parent volunteers at school! If you would like to volunteer, please check with your child's teachers. If you want to volunteer but aren't excited about coming into the school, we have LOTS of opportunity for outside volunteer work including:

• Cutting Watch Me Learn tickets (stop by the office).
• Pulling weeds in the rock areas and park strips (we have all the area in front of the school and up 4800 S along the school fence).
• Sorting construction paper into like colors (stop by the office).
• Using rakes and shovels to redistribute the gravel from the bottom of the retention area in front of the school to the top area to cover the black landscape screen.
• Parking lot duty before and after school (just check in at the office, put on a yellow vest and talk to Travis in the crosswalk for instructions).

Once your family has volunteered 30 hours they can stop by the front office and ask for a VOLUNTEER FROG. There is no formal tracking program - just track the hours yourself. Then, write your family's name on the frog and tape the frog on our volunteer pond in the front foyer.

If you want to volunteer but do not have the time, you can donate $90 to cover the 30 hours. If you choose to donate, complete the volunteer form. You can donate in the office or by using our DONATE icon on the home page of our website.

Volunteering or donating is OPTIONAL and is not required to be a student or a parent of a student at Bridge Elementary.

Absences MUST be excused within 24 hours of the absence. You can do this by leaving a message on the Attendance line at school (801)499-5180 or by using the Excuse Absence online form. You can find this on our website by clicking on the Excuse Absence icon or using the link below:

EXCUSE ABSENCE

Weber Human Services SMR is available for 24/7 crisis support and short-term stabilization. To request help or make a referral, dial 988. Weber Human Service's works with families to improve functioning, develop and maintain healthy communication, and enhance ability to cope with future crisis.

Bridge Elementary is committed to maintaining a school climate that is safe, welcoming, and free of harassment and discrimination. The School prohibits all forms of harassment, and it does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, marital status, or disability.

We encourage anyone who believes they (or someone else) have been subjected to harassment or discrimination at the School to file a complaint with the School’s Principal, Lani Rounds. The School will promptly investigate and resolve all such complaints in accordance with School policy.

If you would like to learn more about how the School handles complaints of harassment or discrimination, please review the School’s Notice of Nondiscrimination, Civil Rights Policy, and Bullying and Hazing Policy on the School’s website at https://www.bridgecharter.org/policies-procedures

Title I was initially passed in 1965 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It is the largest federal assistance program for public schools. These supplemental funds provide students the opportunity to receive a fair, equitable and high-quality education to help close achievement gaps.

Bridge Elementary receives our Title I funding based on the percentage of students that qualify for free or reduced lunch. For this reason we encourage ALL families to apply for Free/Reduced lunch through Aspire to ensure every single student receives the services needed, including access to free or reduced meals if appropriate.

Title I provides avenues for parent input and participation. We do this through our surveys and the link to the form on our website which allows parents to submit questions and suggestions.

You can find more information about Title I as well as a form to ask questions or provide suggestions regarding Title I, on our website at:

https://www.bridgecharter.org/school-events

Principal - Lani Rounds - Lani@BridgeCharter.org

Student Support - Stacey Archuleta - Stacey@BridgeCharter.org

• Morning Supervision and BASE
• Behavior Support and Bullying
• 504 Plans

Lead Secretary - Lalani Williams - Lwilliams@BridgeCharter.org

• Aspire
• Lottery
• Registration

Social Worker - Chelsea Silverwood - Chelsea@BridgeCharter.org

School Nurse - Vicki Ross - Vicki@bridgecharter.org

Special Education

Dianne Kelsey Lead SpED Teacher - Dianne.Kelsey@BridgeCharter.org

Julie Christensen SpED Director - Julie@BridgeCharter.org

ELL Coordinator - Nichol Lloyd - Nichol@BridgeCharter.org

Meal Issues - Jodi Jensen - Jodi@BridgeCharter.org

Classroom Teachers - see website - https://www.bridgecharter.org/teachers

• Daily activities for your child
• Student progress
• Questions about student schedule

The mission of Bridge Elementary is to provide students with a personalized learning experience and empower them to take personal ownership and accountability for their own academic performance.

Email: info@bridgecharter.org
Website: bridgecharter.org
Location: 4824 Midland Drive, Roy, UT
Phone: (801)499-5180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgeCharter