Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge by PTA volunteers
          November 8, 2010                                                                           Vol. 15, Issue 12
 
Bridge Elementary School
55 Middleby Road, Lexington, MA  02421
Web Site:  http://bridge.lexingtonma.org
(781) 861-2510


Upcoming Events For November and December
Now thru December

Collect Box Tops for the 5th Grade Scholarship Fund


Nov 2-30

Remembering Adi Exhibition at Cary Library

 

Nov 10, Wed 8:45-9:15 am

Parent Coffee Connection: Meet the Specialists


Nov 10, Wed 7:00 pm at Cary Hall

Annual LEF Trivia Bee


Nov 11, Thurs Veterans' Day

No School


Nov 12, Fri

Last day to return UNICEF boxes


Nov 12, Fri

Register by today for Gift Drive (see below)


Nov 12-13

Barnes & Noble Bookfair


Nov 13, Sat (raindate 11/14)

Community Service Leaf Raking


Nov 15, Mon (NOTE NEW DATE)

School Picture Retake Day


Nov 16, Tue

Friendly's Fun Raising Event


Nov 17, Wed 6:00-7:00 pm

Annual Open Circle Fair


Nov 24, Wed

Early Dismissal 12:15 pm


Nov 25-28

No School -- Thanksgiving Break


Dec 1, Wed

SRTS Walking Wednesday


Dec 6-9

Bridge School Book Fair


Jokes of the Week
Q: Why do turkeys always go, "gobble, gobble"?
A: Because they never learned good table manners!

Q: Why did the turkey cross the road?
A: Because it was the chicken's day off!
Parking Reminder
Due to safety reasons and bus traffic, there is no visitor parking in the back parking lot of the school.  There is visitor parking on the side and in the front of the building.  We thank you in advance for your help in keeping the students of Bridge safe. 
A Note From the Principal
As you know, Bridge School enjoys festive celebrations.  However, due to both student and staff allergies to latex, please bring mylar balloons, instead of latex balloons, for any celebrations. 
Next B2H Deadline
NEXT DEADLINE:  Thursday, November 11, 5 PM

Please submit by email (preferably in text format only) to Aimee Burstein at [email protected].  Articles are subject to approval by Principal Colella or be from authorized Bridge School and/or PTA sources.

In This Issue...
A Note from Mr. Harney
Meet the Bridge School Specialists
Have You Enjoyed Your Cup of Tea?
UNICEF Thank You
LEF Trivia Bee 11/10
Barnes & Noble Bookfair 11/12-11/13
Register for Holiday Gift Drive!
Help a Senior by Raking Leaves 11/13
Picture Retake Day 11/15 (NEW DATE)
Friendly's Fun-Raising Event 11/16
Recipes Needed
Box Top Collection Begins
Open Circle Fair 11/17
REFLECTIONS Submissions
Eco Bridge GREEN Birthday Ideas
Adi Exhibit at Cary Library
Dismissal Reminder
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


Subscribe to receive weekly B2H e-mail

Wishing Well
Want to make a teacher's wish come true?  Donate to the Wishing Well.  Go to the website or contact Shannon Amsler at [email protected].
Save the Date for the Book Fair 12/6-12/9
Bridge School Book Fair,
sponsored by the Bridge PTA, will be held December 6-9, 2010.  More information to follow.
A Note from Mr. Harney
Happy Fall!  I hope everyone has recovered from Halloween and is resting up for the Holiday season.  This is just a reminder about the recess policy here at Bridge.  Children should be wearing appropriate clothing for outdoor recess.  Recess will be outdoors unless the temperature drops below 19 degrees or is raining.   The red flag will be out by 8:15 to let families know if recess is indoors.  Children well enough to attend school are well enough for outdoor recess.  Parent's should send a note to your child's teacher requesting an exemption from outdoor recess on a particular day.  Children who have been recently ill, are wearing casts or need to stay indoors at a doctor's request may be allowed to stay in during recess.   Thank you for your support.  Stay Warm!

John Harney
Assistant Principal
Meet the Bridge School Specialists: Parents Coffee Connection
Meet the Bridge School Specialists at the next PTA-Sponsored Parent Coffee Connection!

When: Wednesday, November 10 at 8:45 -9:15 am
Where: Bridge School Cafeteria

Does your child come home with beautiful works of art for the refrigerator door, stories of athletic feats in gym, or a newfound love for music?  It is probably due to one of the wonderful educators  at Bridge who share their expertise with the students every day.

The Bridge PTA is pleased to host the Bridge Specialists for coffee and conversation.  We hope you'll join us!

Please watch for information on future coffees, which are tentatively scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of each month.  Upcoming topics include: the new statewide anti-bullying law; building resilience in your children; and the Bridge/Bowman Renovation Plan.
Have You Enjoyed Your Cup of Tea?
teacupThis year, in lieu of selling gift wrap and pies, the Bridge PTA has created a Virtual Tea Fundraiser.  By  now you should have received your Virtual Tea Invitation---we hope you enjoyed your cup of tea!  Please consider writing a check to support the Bridge PTA Mini-Grant Program.  We are currently reviewing over 35 mini-grant proposals from Bridge teachers and staff and hope to be able to grant as many of these fine proposals as possible.  We cannot do this without your help.

To participate, write your check to "Bridge PTA" with "Tea Fundraiser" in the note line, and place your donation in the box on the table in the front foyer at Bridge (or mail to the Bridge PTA).  We have extended the deadline until November 12.   Thank you so much for your support. 

Questions?  Please email Heidi Epstein at [email protected].
UNICEF Thank You
Thank you to all who collected donations for UNICEF. Students can drop off their orange boxes in the box located just outside the Main Office until Friday, November 12. If you have any questions, please contact Kris Maeda at [email protected]. Thank you for your cooperation!
LEF Trivia Bee 11/10
Now in its 15th year, the Lexington Education Foundation's (LEF) Trivia Bee will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 7:00 p.m. at Cary Hall.  Come cheer for the FIVE Bridge teacher teams!


Admission is FREE and there's no school the next day --- make it a family event!  You won't want to miss this fun and exciting town-wide tradition and the chance to cheer on your favorite team of teachers, friends and neighbors! Over forty teams will be testing their trivia know-how in a "final-Jeopardy"-style format.  All nine schools will be fielding at least one team, and Bridge will be sending FIVE teams of teachers, the most of any school! Will Bridge's Brought to you by the Letter B reign supreme?  Will Oh-BEE-have make our town toe the line?  Will the Bridge Bad Boys or Bridge Bad Girls show Lexington why they are so bad?  Will Burt's Bees bring home the crown to Bridge?  Come find out as you cheer for your teachers!


Some perennial favorites such as the Revolutionaries, the Copper Bees and the 12:00 Scholars will try to claim the winning spot, new teams have signed up to create some buzz and participate in the trivia hijinks, and last year's Bee champs, the Klee-Bees, are returning to defend their title.


Don't miss the opportunity to cheer for Bridge, the school with the most teams of teachers!


For more information about the Trivia Bee, please visit www.lexedfoundation.org or call us at 781-372-3288.

Barnes & Noble Bookfair 11/12-11/13


Click here for a printable version of the voucher or to shop online, visit bn.com/bookfairs from 11/14-11/18 and enter ID 10321263 at the bottom of the payment page at checkout.
Register for Gift Drive!
Once again the Bridge School Community Service Committee is organizing a gift drive for families in need.   The gift drive is a way to brighten the holidays for young children who may not otherwise receive presents.  At the same time, it presents an opportunity to teach your own children about the joy of giving to those less fortunate.  Last year the Bridge School community gave gifts to more than 200 homeless and at-risk children and mothers.  
 
We will again be working with social workers at the Anne Sullivan Center in Lowell.   The Center serves families in the Merrimack Valley, and we have been told that the number of families in need this year continues to be high.        
 
As was the case last year, Bridge families may opt to buy a gift for a mother, either in lieu of or in addition to a gift for a child.
 
If you would like to participate, please email the following information BY NOVEMBER 12 to [email protected]:  your name; email address; phone number; number of gifts your family would like to buy; and whether you would like to give a gift to a mother.  PLEASE NOTE:  THERE WILL BE NO HARD-COPY FORM THIS YEAR; REGISTRATION IS BY EMAIL ONLY.
 
We will be emailing assignments no later than November 19 and will ask that you deliver your gifts to us by December 3.   We invite all Bridge students to a card-making party after school on December 10 (details to follow).
 
If you have any questions and/or would like more information, please contact Cindy Lewis at 781-274-7821, [email protected] or Susan Morin at 781-640-2148. 
Help a Senior by Raking Leaves on 11/13
The Community Service Committee invites Bridge Families to join in our annual leaf raking for a Lexington senior on Saturday November 13th from 1-4pm; raindate is November 14th from 1-4pm.  It is easy, fun and free AND greatly appreciated.  Bring your rakes or let us know if you need for one to be provided.  If you are aware of anyone in your neighborhood who could benefit from this service, please let us know.

RSVP to Amy McGaraghan at [email protected] or cell (978) 853-3864.
Picture Retake Day Rescheduled for Monday 11/15
Picture Retake Day has been RESCHEDULED from Friday, November 12th to MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15th from 9-12. All retakes will be taken inside.

If Your Child Was Absent on the Original Picture Day

You can either order your photos BEFORE Retake Day online at www.coffeepond.com or send in the original order form and payment with your child on Retake Day. You will not be charged a late fee when ordering online if your child was absent. Please instruct your child to let his/her teacher know in advance that you wish for your child to participate in Retake Day.

If You Are Unhappy With Your Portrait

If you're unhappy with the results of your child's portrait for any reason, you may have a retake or receive a refund. If you choose to have your child's portrait retaken, please have your child bring the original package to school to hand in to the photographer during Retake Day. You can also include a note to the photographer regarding what you did not like about the photo. Be sure to keep the class photo, as they will not be reprinted.
Coffee Pond can not produce a new package until the original one is returned in full.

If you would like a refund, simply go to www.coffeepond.com/pdf/refund.pdf, print the form, fill it out and mail it to Coffee Pond along with the entire, undamaged package within one month of receipt.

Contact Clare Sweeney at [email protected]t with any questions.
Friendly's Fun-Raising Event 11/16
Friendly's logo   Come join us on Tue, Nov 16th, between 5:00-8:00pm, at Friendly's,
   111 Lexington St. in Waltham.

Just come and eat dinner at Friendly's and a percent of the proceeds will go to the Bridge 5th Grade Activities Committee (no flyer necessary!)

Bring the whole family--Friendly's Fun-Raising Nights are a great way to get together with Bridge friends, enjoy dinner and ice cream, and help raise funds for 5th graders.
Hope to see you there!
Recipes Needed for the 2nd Bridge International Cookbook

Back by popular demand, we're planning a second edition of the Bridge International Cookbook and we need your recipes! We're looking for your favorite recipes, including:

 

    .      Family friendly recipes

    .      International favorites

    .      Great school lunch ideas

    .      Vegetarian and gluten-free recipes

    .      Locavore meals using locally grown foods


...anything that helps parents help their kids to get their grains, fruits and veggies in--and is proven to work in Bridge international community labs (i.e., our own kitchens)! Doesn't have to be gourmet, it just has to work. All recipes welcome, even ones that came from another cookbook or online!

 

This year, we've got a great way to enter your favorite recipes online. Simply go to:  www.typensave.com and follow the simple instructions. To log in, use: 

Group login: bridge2011

Contributor password: ayhhj

 

Please submit up to 3 recipes by December 15th. Your family's name will be included in the cookbook with your recipe.

 

Bridge International Cookbooks will be available in mid-March. All proceeds benefit the 5th Grade Activities Committee.

Box Top Collection Begins
Bridge School Box Tops Contest!

Why?  "Box Tops for Education," the little rectangles on the tops of food and other products, are worth money - $0.10 each!  By clipping them and bringing them into Bridge School, you help pay for scholarships for 5th grade students to go on the environmental education camping trip. 
   
There's more!  By clipping them, your child's class could win a prize!

The two classrooms that bring in the most Box Tops by the end of December will receive prizes - winter indoor recess fun packs to make snowy, cold days more enjoyable for your child!  One winner will be from K-2 and one from 3-5. 

How do I do this?  Each classroom will have a collection envelope or jar.  Also, you can put them in a Ziploc or an envelope with your child's name and classroom and place them in the box on the PTA table at the entrance of Bridge School. 

Which products have Box Tops?  So many!  You'll receive a list, but for now, watch your food and products for a rectangle that says "Box Tops for Education."  That's what you want!  Also, you can go to this website for a complete list:
http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/clip/Brands.aspx
Questions?  Contact:  Usha Tummala-Narra - [email protected] or Jennifer Pawloski - [email protected]

The 5th grade scholarship fund thanks you!  Let's see which class is tops at clipping!
Open Circle Fair 11/17

You're Invited to...

An Open Circle Fair


Open Circle logo


Open Circle is a comprehensive, grade-differentiated social and emotional learning program for grades K-5 children, their teachers, administrators, school staff, parents and caregivers.

 

Who: Bridge School Families (Parents and Students)

 

When: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010 6-7:00pm

(The night is broken into 15-minute activities; please plan to come at 6:00pm)

 

What: Spend an evening learning more about Open Circle with your child(ren).  When you arrive, you will receive a "passport" to follow for the night.  You will travel to various parts of the school and play Open Circle games, join an actual Open Circle, complete craft projects, and close the night with a whole group activity.  Various grade level teachers and specialists will lead the activities. 

 

Where: Bridge School

REFLECTIONS Submissions
Charge into REFLECTIONS, National PTA's program to enhance quality arts education for grades K-12.  Children can submit their own artwork in any of these categories:
Photography
Visual Arts
Literature
Musical Composition
Dance Choreography
Film/Video Production

This year's theme is "Together we can..."  The deadline for submitting artwork to Bridge School PTA is December 23, 2010.  Stay tuned for more details, or find out more on the web at http://www.ptareflections.org/.

Any inquiries? Please contact:
Bruce Rubenstein:    [email protected]
Guorong Zhu:    [email protected]
Jooyoung Kang:    [email protected]
Eco Bridge "GREEN Birthday Ideas"
Next time you begin planning to celebrate your child's birthday, consider a few easy ideas to help you celebrate the earth too!

Send your invitations on-line through e-vite or email.
  • Ask people to please carpool to your home or arrange carpools if you are traveling to a venue such as a bowling alley or lazer tag.  Did you ever notice how many mini-vans from the same neighborhood line up in front of your home when you host a party?  Once you get used to it, carpooling to parties makes parents lives easier too!
  • Serve your beverages in plastic cups rather than juice boxes and place a few sharpies out so that kids can decorate and re-use their cup.  Recycle the cups at the end of the party.  You can also run the plastic utensils through the dishwasher and use them again.
  • Avoid giving out "junk" party favors that will end up in the trash.  Try finding party favors with a longer shelf life such as pencils or pens, markers.  If you want kids to have something to take home, organize a book swap instead of a party bag.  Each child can bring one book to swap and everyone gets something great to take home at the end of the party.
  • Bake or purchase a smaller cake and offer small slices.  Did you ever notice how much cake gets thrown away?
Putting in practice even one or two of these tips will go a long way to increasing your environmental stewardship and party fun! 
Adi Exhibit at Cary Library
We celebrate Adi's life and his nature photography now through the end of November.

"NATURE'S WONDERS"
 AN EXHIBITION OF ADI'S PORTFOLIO

Location: Cary Memorial Library (Piper Gallery, upper level)
1874 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420

Looking forward to seeing you among our guests,

Carmen and Omri (Adi's parents)
Ph: 781-652.8441
Dismissal Reminder
If you would like to change the way your child is picked up during dismissal time, please cut out the form or print it from the Bridge website, fill it out, and return it to your child's classroom teacher.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student Name:_________________________________

 

Classroom Teacher:______________________________

 

 

 


Monday

(3:15 pm)

Tuesday

(3:15 pm)

Wednesday

(3:15 pm)

Thursday (12:15pm)

Friday

(3:15 pm)

EXAMPLE:

W

W

C

LEX

B#6

KEY:

Walker- W

 

Bus-B (bus #)

 

L'Extended Day- LEX

 

Car Pick Up- C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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