Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge Elementary School by PTA volunteers
          September 27, 2010                                                                           Vol. 15, Issue 6
 
Bridge Elementary School
55 Middleby Road, Lexington, MA  02421
Web Site:  http://bridge.lexingtonma.org
(781) 861-2510


Upcoming Events

2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR: MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Sept 28, Tues, 5:30-7:30 pm (raindate Sept 30)

Family Pizza Night & National Geographic World Map Tour


Sept 28 OR 29

Big Backyard Basics Training (see details below)


Sept 30, Thurs, 8:45-10:30 am

Newcomer's Breakfast at 69 Prospect Hill Road


Sept 30 and Oct 1

Bridge Fall Big Backyard Training for parents (see details below)


Oct 3, Sun, 11 am Hayden Lower Field

Hastings Elementary 1st Annual Harvest 5K Run/Walk


Oct 6, Wed

International Walk to School Day


Oct 8, Fri

No School: Professional Development Day (per revised LPS calendar)


Oct 10, Sun

Safe Routes to School Fall Cleanup, 1-3PM


Oct 11, Mon, Columbus Day
No School


Oct 15, Fri 7:45 a

Site Based Council Information Meeting in the library


Oct 16, Sat, Noon-3:00 pm  RAIN OR SHINE!
Walk for the Arts


October 24, Sun, 3-4:30 pm

Lexington PTA-Sponsored Parent Forum: "Working Together: A Community Response to Student Stress, Church of our Redeemer, 6 Meriam Street, Lexington Center


Oct 30, Sat (raindate October 31)
Family Photo Day

Jokes of the Week
Q. What did the glue say to the teacher?
A. "I'm stuck on you."

Q. Why was the music teacher so good at baseball?
A. Because she had the perfect pitch.

Sign Up to Get More Info
The Bridge School List Serv acts as an emergency email contact list that enables the school to contact parents quickly (for example, health alerts, school closings due to snow, water main breaks, etc).  It also provides information about district-wide Lexington Public School events.  You can sign up by going to the signup page on the Bridge website.

A Yahoo group has been set up for parents to share information, ask questions, and post information (e.g. babysitting, after-school activities, looking for ice skates, etc). To join, either go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bridge_02421/join- OR - send an email to [email protected].
Next B2H Deadline
NEXT DEADLINE:  Thursday, September 30, 5 PM

Articles must be approved by Mrs. Colella or be from authorized Bridge School and/ or PTA sources. 
Please submit by email (preferably in text format only) to Aimee Burstein at [email protected].
In This Issue...
Principal's Corner
Giant Map & Pizza Night 9/28
Newcomer's Breakfast 9/30
Bridge PTA Membership Deadline 9/30
Big Backyard Volunteer Trainings
International Walk to School Day 10/6
It's Fall Clean-up Time for SRS 10/10
Join the Site Council 10/15
Walk for the Arts on 10/16
Support FOLMADS
Student Absence Line

call (781) 861-2510
press 6, then press 1

Parents should call Bridge School by 8:30am when their child is going to be absent or late.

Cafeteria Info.
Lunch: $3.25
Milk only: $0.75


View this week's menu from Chartwell's

Last Chance to Update Your Directory Info!
Now is your last chance to get your information in the Bridge School Directory!  Each Bridge family should have received an email verification of their
directory information.  If you have not received a verification, please submit your information at
http://bridge.lexingtonma.org/PTA/directory.php.  Deadline is Wednesday 9/29.  Thank you!  Questions?  Contact Directory Chair, Jane Chang at [email protected].
Parking Reminder
Please remember that there is visitor parking in the front of the building and in the side parking lot. There is no visitor parking in the rear of the building. If you are picking up a walker, please park in the designated visitor parking spots. It is too dangerous to have cars in motion in the rear of the building during dismissal. Thank you!

Subscribe to receive weekly B2H e-mail

Principal's Corner
           Bridge School is pleased to welcome three new classroom teachers to our staff this year; I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to these talented educators.

Betsy Conway-Grade 2: Ms. Conway grew up in Westford, MA. She attended Boston College, where she majored in sociology. Upon completion of her Master's degree from Simmons College, she began teaching in Franklin, MA.  After three years of teaching both grades 1 and 2, we were fortunate to have Ms. Conway join the Bridge School staff.  Her past experiences, coupled with her enthusiasm, have helped to make her transition to Bridge a smooth one.  In addition to teaching, Ms. Conway enjoys running, playing tennis, dogs, and visiting the beach.  She "is very excited to be here at Bridge."
 
Kirsten Davis-Grade K: Ms. Davis grew up in Franklin, MA and attended Colby College. She spent two years as an apprentice teacher at the New Canaan Country School in Connecticut. Last year, Ms. Davis earned a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University and completed her student teaching in Cambridge, MA.  Ms. Davis enjoys running, baking cupcakes, and playing kickball.  She has eased into her role as a Kindergarten teacher here at Bridge and has quickly become an active member of our staff.
 
Megan Hinton-Grade 4: Ms. Hinton received her undergraduate degree at Loyola College in Maryland. She earned her Master's degree at Boston College.  Ms. Hinton's teaching experience prior to coming to Bridge was in the fourth grade at both the Bartlett School in Waltham and at the Josiah Haynes School in Sudbury, MA.  Ms. Hinton has quickly become a collaborative member of the Bridge fourth grade team. When she is not working, Ms. Hinton enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.  She is "excited to work with the fabulous fourth grade team" at Bridge.


Meg Colella
Principal
Giant Map Tours and Annual Pizza Picnic on 9/28
On September 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, the Bridge School PTA will hold its annual Pizza Picnic Party in the playground.  During the evening, parents and families are invited to take 15-minute tours of the Giant Map of Africa in the gymnasium in groups of 40 people at a time.  Free tickets to the tour will be distributed on a first come, first served basis at the picnic in the Playground.  Socks must be worn as the massive floor map is delicate. 

Other activities:
  • Make sure you see the slide show from Mrs. Gates and Mrs. Litchfield's summer trip to Zambia! 
  • Take an African dance class and listen to African music.  From 6-7 pm, an African dance will be taught by Janet Farnsworth, along with Jo Hannah Katz's adopted children from Ethiopia.
  • Join in a giant soccer ball game.
Bring your blankets and enjoy dining al fresco.  You can bring your own picnic or purchase some pizza.  Pizza and water are available for sale on a pre-order basis to benefit the fifth grade class activity fund.  Order sheets went home in backpacks last week.  Order sheets and payment should be left in the 5th Grade Activity Box in the foyer and are due on Monday September 27th. 

Raindate is September 30th.

Newcomer's Breakfast on 9/30
Are you new to Bridge School?  The Bridge PTA welcomes you and invites you for a special Newcomer's Breakfast on Thursday, September 30th from 8:45 - 10:30 at the home of Tricia Weisberg at 69 Prospect Hill Road.  It's a great opportunity to meet other parents and ask PTA members questions about Bridge School.  Any questions?  Contact Tricia at [email protected].

We hope to see you there!
Bridge PTA Membership Deadline is 9/30!
The Bridge School PTA needs your help to fund its programs and to participate as a voting PTA member.  As of September 26, 2010, 184 out of 377 families, as well as 2 staff members, have already joined the PTA.  If you have not yet joined the Bridge School PTA, do it today!  Simply print out the form below (or download from the Bridge website http://bridge.lexingtonma.org/PTA/membership.php), fill in your information, and include your $20 membership check and a tax-deductible donation of any amount.  Completed forms may be dropped off in the Membership Box in the front foyer of Bridge or mailed directly to Bridge School.   Your annual membership funds approximately 50% of the wonderful programs and activities run by the Bridge PTA.  We're counting on you to participate by September 30!

All PTA Members will receive a free Bridge Directory in October and a subscription to Bridge to Home email newsletter.
BRIDGE SCHOOL PTA MEMBERSHIP FORM

Please return this form to the MEMBERSHIP box on the PTA table in the vestibule of the main entrance or mail it to: Bridge PTA, Bridge Elementary School, 55 Middleby Road, Lexington, MA 02421.

Your Name:  __________________________________

Youngest Child's Name: _____________________________________

Youngest Child's Classroom Teacher: ____________________________

Home Address:____________________________________________

Phone Number:_________________________

Email Address:_________________________


Annual Membership Dues: $20            

Donation to PTA:   $25          $50         $100         Other        

Extra Directories:   $            ($5 per additional directory, $10 if ordered after 9/30)
 
Total Enclosed:       $               Thank You!

Please make check payable to "Bridge School PTA". Donations are tax deductible.
Members will receive one complementary copy of the 2010-2011 Bridge School Directory. The Directory will be sent home with your youngest Bridge child in October.

Big Backyard Volunteer Training 9/28-10/1

The Big Backyard is a seasonal program that relies on parent volunteers to lead small groups of children from their child's class on nature walks around Bridge School. These walks take place outside during the school day in areas around Bridge. No previous experience is necessary. First time parents are always welcome.  Please see the Bridge website for more details.

 

Big Backyard Basics is for parents new to the nature study program, as well as for those who want an overview of the program and a review of basic environmental science principles.  Fran Ludwig and Karen McCarthy, K-5 Science Coordinator, will lead the training.  For more information, contact Fran at [email protected].

 

BBY Basic Training:

 

Tues. September 28, 7:00-9:00 PM at the Harrington School Art Room

OR

Wed. September 29, 9:30-11:30 AM at the Central Office Building, Room 2 (downstairs conference room) at 146 Maple St. ("Old Harrington").

 

 

Training for specific grade level walks are done seasonally at each school.  2010 classroom walks will take place during October.  If you would like to lead a Fall walk, please come to the following training:

 

Thursday, September 30                Friday, October 1

 

9:00 - Kindergarten                      9:00 - Grade 3

 

10:00 - Grade  1

 

11:00 - Grade 2

 

Meet at the Bridge Big Backyard/Parent Resource Room.  We will be going outside rain or shine, so please dress appropriately.

 

All walk descriptions are available electronically.  If you would like to volunteer but are unable to make the above training dates, or if you would like more information, please contact Bridge Big Backyard Co-coordinators Laurie Curtis at [email protected] or Andrew McKee at [email protected].

 

Important note:  All parents who work with children in the Big Backyard program must have submitted a CORI form and a picture ID to the Main Office (see Marcia Cavatorta for details) at least 2 weeks before the actual classroom walks.  CORI checks are good for 3 years so if you have submitted a form within the last 3 years, you do not have to reapply.
 Save the Date 10/6
 
Please help SRS clean up the path on 10/10
The Bridge School Safe Routes to School (SRS) subcommittee will hold a fall cleanup of the Marrett-Bridge path from 1-3pm on Sunday, October 10. The Marrett-Bridge path is the paved walkway on the north and west sides of the Old Res in Lexington.  We will be clearing vegetation from the fence, and clearing the path of dirt and debris, so please bring a flat shovel, leaf rake, or garden pruner.  Meet at the Bridge playground.  This year we will be part of the 10/10/10 Global Work Party.  Contact:  Tom Shiple at [email protected].
Join the Site Council!
Come join the team! Our first meeting will be held October 15, 2010 at 7:45 am in the library. We are looking to expand our membership and we welcome any interested parties to attend this informational first meeting.

Site Council is a committee that involves parents, staff members, and community members.  They work together on various school related endeavors and advise staff members on issues and concerns community and families have.  Last year, our Site Council spent the bulk of its time this year exploring ways to increase enrichment opportunities for our students during and after school.  Several grade levels have experimented with regrouping students across a grade level regularly or periodically to provide challenge, remediation, or practice learning activities for students.  Since parents have expressed interest in after-school, club-type enrichment activities for their children, Site Council is exploring ways to provide interest-based enrichment.
Walk for the Arts on 10/16
The Walk for the Arts will take place on Saturday October 16 from Noon to 3 PM.  The Walk is an outdoor family event for the Bridge community.  Come to walk, build sculptures, paint faces, participate in drumming circles and raise money for the arts at Bridge.  If you would like to participate in this annual festival, please contact Ami Stix ([email protected]) or Jackie Quint ([email protected])

The Walk for the Arts is the only fundraising event at Bridge for Arts Created Together (ACT). ACT is a special program that is independently-funded by Bridge parents and is dedicated to bringing the fine and performing arts to our students. Programming is developed with the guidance and support of Bridge faculty to complement the curriculum at each grade-level.
 
ACT's mission is to introduce your children to a variety of artistic disciplines ranging from the classical-- spoken word, illustration, music and poetry to the international--Hawaiian dance and culture, Latin music and African dance.  Special programs include singer/songwriter Darden Smith's Be An Artist workshop while fifth graders travel to Boston's Museum of Fine Arts to see first-hand many of the techniques they have studied in the studio with our art teacher, Lynn Murray.
 
"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."                                                                              ~Pablo Picasso
Support FOLMADS
Very shortly, parents will be receiving a fund raising letter from FOLMADS, the Friends of Lexington Music, Art and Drama Students.  FOLMADS is a non-profit, tax exempt organization that raises money from parents and the Lexington community to support the Lexington Public Schools' visual and performing arts teachers by providing resources that the school system is unable to provide to them. 

In recent years, Bridge School has benefited greatly from the generosity of FOLMADS.  Last spring, Bridge School was awarded a $3000 grant to build a DVD and video library of world music and dance.  This award allowed the elementary music department to buy 75 videos and DVDs about music and dance from Africa, taiko drumming from Japan, Samba from Brazil, Arabic music and dance, and Native and indigenous populations' music and dance from all around the world.  It is a treasure trove of cultural resource for the Lexington Public Schools community!  In the last 3 years, FOLMADS also has given over $10,000 to the music department at Bridge School to purchase drums, xylophones, gongs, and curriculum materials, as well as to provide opportunities for students to work and interact with professional musicians and dancers from around the world.

We ask that you help support this organization when they do their fund raising.  Thank you in advance for your support.  Visit http://www.folmads.org/ for more information.

Deborah Side
Music Specialist
Bridge Elementary School

2010-2011 PTA Executive Committee Members

CO-PRESIDENTS

Justine Wirtanen

Rebecca Reynolds Moore


CO-VICE PRESIDENTS

Victoria Campos

Stephanie Mitzenmacher

Laura Schroeder

Cathy Smith

Guorong Zhu


TREASURER

Tricia Weisberg

SECRETARY

Suzanne Lau

Bridge School Office Staff


PRINCIPAL

Margaret Colella

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

John Harney

ADMINISTRATIVE ASST

Marcia Cavatorta

GUIDANCE

Lucia Gates

NURSE

Diane Celi