Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge by PTA volunteers
          January 24, 2011                                                                           Vol. 15, Issue 23
 
 
Bridge Elementary School
55 Middleby Road, Lexington, MA  02421
 
Web Site:  http://bridge.lexingtonma.org
 
(781) 861-2510
 

 

 
Upcoming Events For January and February
Now through the end of January
Get Wishing Well Discounts (see below)
  

Jan 24-28

Bridge School No Name Calling Week (see below)
 

Jan 25, Tues 6:30-7:45 pm

1st Grade Family Math Night
 

Jan 26, Wed

Last day to submit Bookmark Contest entries to Mrs. Allen


Jan 27, Thurs 7:00 pm at 53 Baskin Road

Science Night Team planning meeting


Feb 1, Tues 6:30-7:30 pm
Kindergarten Math Night
 

Feb 1, Tues 3:15-4:00 pm NOTE DAY/DATE CORRECTED 
YES Program Spring Session Begins
 

Feb 2, Wed

SRTS Walking Wednesday

Feb 2, Wed 10:30 am, 449 Waltham (please park on Bridge St)
International Festival Committee Meeting
 

Feb 4, Fri 7:30-10:30 pm

Casual Winter Ball FUNdraiser at Knights of Columbus, Heritage Hall, 177 Bedford Street
 

Feb 8, Tues 6:30-8:00 pm

Third Grade Math Night
 

Feb 10, Thurs 6:30-8:30 pm at Estabrook

Free Screening of Including Samuel (pre-register by 1/28, see below)
 

Feb 15, Tues 6:30-8:00 pm

Second Grade Math Night
 

Feb 17, Thurs 6:30-8:00 pm

Fourth and Fifth Grade Math Night
 

Feb 21, Mon Presidents Day

No School
 

Feb 22-25 February Vacation

No School
 

Jokes of the Week
Q: What happens when a cat eats a lemon?
A:  It becomes a sour puss!

Q: Where do cows go on Saturday nights?
A:  To the MOOO-vies!
 

Bridge Movie Night to Be Rescheduled

Don't let the snow get you down, The Bridge Movie Night showing of Up will be rescheduled soon.  Stay tuned for details!
Save the Date - Spring Fling is April 1st (No Fooling!!)
Spring Fling 2011 -- Bridge's annual family dessert and dancing party -- will take place on Friday, April 1.  See you there!

Wishing Well News

Each member of the Bridge School staff has been invited to make wishes for their classroom and drop them in the well. The Bridge School PTA will be fulfilling some wishes this year but parents or groups of parents may directly grant wishes if they choose.  You can go to the Wishing Well Web page for the latest updates.  If you do grant a wish directly to the staff, be sure to let us know so that we may cross it off the wish list on the Web site. If you would like to grant a wish or contribute to the wishing well, kindly contact Shannon Amsler at [email protected].


There is still time to take advantage of the discounts offered by local businesses in support of the Wishing Well.  Click here to see what's still available.
 

Next B2H Deadline
NEXT DEADLINE:  Thursday, January 27, 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 must be from authorized Bridge School and/or PTA sources.
 
In This Issue...
Bridge School Dismissal Concerns
Principal's Corner
No Name Calling Week 1/24-1/28
Please Donate to Our Casual *Winter Ball* and Auction!
Family Math Nights Begin 1/25
Bridge School Library Bookmark Design Contest
Bridge School Science Night Planning Starts
International Festival News
You're Invited to our First Winter Ball!
Annual Book Fair Needs You!
ACT Needs Your Help!
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 month's menu from Chartwell's


Subscribe to receive weekly B2H e-mail

Lost and Found
Please remember to label your child's clothing and belongings (especially hats, gloves, coats, lunch boxes, etc) with his/her last name and to periodically check the Lost and Found.  Items that are unclaimed for more than 5 weeks will be donated to charity at the end of each month.  Please take a 'mo to claim your child's missing winter coat, fleece, hat and mittens.  It's worth your time! 
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. 
Dismissal Reminder
Due to traffic flow and safety concerns, during dismissal time, no left turns onto Middleby are permitted.  Thank you for adhering to this rule. 
Archived B2H
Starting with the 8/6/2010 issue, past Bridge to Home issues are now archived on the Bridge Web site.  

Bridge School Dismissal Concerns

Due to safety concerns, this is a reminder of the Bridge dismissal procedures.  On Thursday 1/20, many parents tried to pick up their children near the buses.  This is STRICTLY forbidden.  Because of this, the safety of many Bridge students was compromised. There is no car pick up near the buses.  All Bridge families must abide by the rules below in order to maintain a safe dismissal process. 

 

  1. Cars are NOT permitted near the buses.  The first 11 spots on the side of the building are allocated for parents/guardians to park.  You may NOT to travel past those spots.  Students who walk home are crossing in this area and their safety is compromised when cars pull through.  The cones are set up daily as a signal to you that you may not pass through.  (Today, we witnessed cars driving over the cones.) 
  2. When a bus is parked with the stop sign displayed, it is ILLEGAL to pass the bus.
  3. There is NO PARKING in the back of the school.  It is staff only parking.  Additional parking is available in the front of the school. 
  4. All students being picked up by car are to wait near the fifth grade door.  Parents are to follow the live pick up rules. 
  5. Students who are dismissed as walkers will exit the building through the back door.  Parents who park their cars should meet their children in the back of the building, not at the fifth grade door. 
  6. There is NO LEFT TURN out of the parking lot during dismissal. 
  7. If you would like your child(ren) to switch his/her dismissal routine, please notify the classroom teacher in writing. 

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN ENSURING THE SAFETY OF BRIDGE SCHOOL STUDENTS!

Principal's Corner

At Bridge School, we value diversity and each child's individuality.  We have focused much attention on the social and emotional well-being of our students this year.  This week, we have focused on No Name Calling.  We kicked off the week with an assembly, followed by Open Circle lessons and lessons from our diversity lesson binder used system wide.           

 

On January 14 we honored Dr. Martin Luther King.  We were reminded of his vision for our country, that people would view one another "not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character".  In the Lexington Public Schools, we have embraced that vision and made it a cornerstone of our district goals and our Diversity Curriculum.  The second system-wide goal, to consciously teach pro-social behavior, is the umbrella overarching the Diversity Curriculum.  We believe that all students need to see themselves reflected in our curriculum.  In addition, we believe that children must see their classmates, who most certainly have differences, as well as similarities to themselves, in the curriculum they study.  "The role of the schools is not to get everyone to agree, but to foster a climate where there is respect for the diversity of beliefs and families within the community.  Respect is built by acknowledging the diversity in the community, promoting opportunities for dialogue, and allowing the diversity of families to be visible within the school.  Most people would agree that it is appropriate for schools to teach kindness and mutual respect for everyone's beliefs." (LPS Diversity Manual)

 

At Bridge, our community's diversity is evident in many ways: ethnicity, race, learning style, religion, and family composition.  It is important to us as faculty members to reflect these differences in both the lessons we teach and in the discussions that our children initiate with adults and peers. 

 

How does this look in a classroom?  The Open Circle Curriculum at each grade level contains lessons in understanding differences, in respecting others, and in mastering the skills needed for open and honest communication.  Our district has also developed lessons focused on diversity, supplementing and enhancing the discussions that occur in an Open Circle format.  We frequently welcome family members who share special events in their homes that are related to cultural traditions.  We use high quality literature and the children's personal stories as a starting point for conversations, and we always consider the district goal of making everyone feel safe and included.  When students raise sensitive issues, we respond in a non-judgmental manner, considering the child's questions, the child's age and understanding, and the balance between what is appropriate for a school to address with issues that are best discussed in the home.

        

Focusing this week on No Name Calling Week goes hand in hand with the districts goals and beliefs.  We feel this endeavor will further enhance our sense of community and continue to strengthen the positive feeling among the halls of Bridge School.

        

Meg Colella

Principal

Bridge School No Name Calling Week 1/24-1/28

Along with Bridge School and GLSEN, Barnes and Nobles is taking part in "No Name Calling Week."  Here is an excerpt from their website:

 

"No Name-Calling Week, created by GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing in 2004, is an annual week of educational and creative activities designed to end name-calling of all kinds, with lessons and activities for elementary, middle and high schools. The week was inspired by the young adult novel "The Misfits" and is presented in collaboration with more than 50 national education and youth service organizations, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the National School Boards Association and the National Education Association.  Hundreds of thousands of students have participated in No Name-Calling Week, which is made possible, in larger part, thanks to a grant from Cisco."

 

Check out the special events Barnes & Nobles is hosting.


  • Jan. 15-23 will be Barnes & Noble Educator Appreciation Week, during which stores will have No Name-Calling Week materials available for teachers and educators, including book recommendations, tip sheets for organizing No Name-Calling Week events, lesson plans for elementary and middle school students, classroom posters and buttons.

  • Barnes & Noble's website (www.bn.com/noname) will feature exclusive video content from bestselling children's, young adult and adult authors discussing their thoughts and experiences on bullying.  
     
  • Exclusive No Name-Calling articles by James Howe and Jodi Picoult will be featured in the January line-up of the More In Store program available on NOOK, the Barnes & Noble eBook Reader.
     

"Bringing awareness to the seriousness and severity of name-calling, teasing, bullying and cyber bullying is very important to Barnes & Noble. We're pleased to be partnering with Simon & Schuster and GLSEN for such an important effort," said Mary Amicucci, vice president of Children's Books for Barnes & Noble.


Please Donate to Our Casual *Winter Ball* and Auction by 1/25
PLEASE DONATE ITEMS TO OUR WINTER BALL & AUCTION!

The PTA FUNdraiser committee is reaching out to all Bridge School families for auction items to donate to our Casual *Winter Ball* & Auction to take place on Friday evening, February 4th at the Knights of Columbus Heritage Hall, 177 Bedford Street in Lexington.

What is the Casual Winter Ball & Auction? 
It's a new PTA fundraiser event.  All proceeds from the auction go to grant wishes from our school "wishing well."  This event will raise needed funds to support our wonderful Blue Ribbon Award winning school, teachers, and students (yes, students/families can make wishes for the school/classrooms too)!

How can you support the Auction?
Have a Ball -- be creative with ideas for donation!  The usual FUN auction goodies are always appreciated:  event/sports/theater tickets, vacation homes, time shares, country club round, any specialty services such as dance class, cooking class, chef prepared meal, photography, art work, etc!  Your company/business donations are welcome too!

Families interested in donating goods or services please contact Patti Keefe at 781-862-4460 or [email protected], Amy White at [email protected], Shannon Amsler at [email protected],  or Jennifer Pawloski at [email protected].

Your donations are greatly appreciated!  Thank you for your support!
Family Math Nights Begin 1/25
Family Math Nights are returning soon to Bridge.  Mark your calendar!  We're sure to have a great set of events planned for this year following a great 2010 event.  Family Math Nights involve parents and children working together on fun and engaging self-paced and group math activities. 

Please plan to arrive by 6:30 pm.  We will start signing people in at 6:20 pm. The event runs until 8 pm (7:45 pm for 1st grade and 7:30 pm for Kindergarten).  Registration forms will be coming home with your child about a week before their event.  A parent must attend with their child.  No siblings please.  Questions? Contact Stu Jacobson:  [email protected].

Family Math Night Schedule:
1st Grade: Jan. 25               
Kindergarten: Feb. 1    
3rd Grade: Feb. 8
2nd Grade: Feb. 15
4th and 5th Grade: Feb. 17
Last Chance -- Get Your Bridge School Library Bookmark Designs in by 1/26

Join us for the 3rd annual Bookmark Design Contest at Bridge Library.  Students help celebrate our program by designing a bookmark that shows the many activities, lessons, and experiences that we share in our school library. The theme this year is "Think. . .Create. . . Share. . . Grow." Students are learning to Think critically...to Create new knowledge...to Share their learning...to Grow in curiosity as a student.
 

Entries are submitted in three divisions:


                  Kindergarten - Grade 1                                       

                  Grade 2 - Grade 3

                  Grade 4 - Grade 6

 

The Bookmark Contest is strictly voluntary.  Students who are interested in participating must obtain an official entry from Mrs. Allen in the library.  Official entries must be submitted to Mrs. Allen by January 26, 2011.
 

Mrs. Allen, Bridge School Librarian
Come Help Plan Bridge School Science Night 1/27
Bridge School Science Night , scheduled for 3/24, is a great Bridge School tradition - a family night of hands on experiments for all to explore.  Last year almost half of the student body attended -- over 200 kids!  Bridge School Science Night is a fun event and a great way to share your love for the sciences with the next generation of scientists, engineers, architects, doctors and technical specialists.  And scientific principles do not only apply to scientists - they apply to teachers, administrators, managers, artists, entrepreneurs!
 
Come join the Bridge School Science Night team for a planning meeting at 53 Baskin Road on January 27 at 7pm.  Contact Frank Schapfel at [email protected] or 978-761-6015 to help plan for an evening of fun.
Bridge School International Festival News

This exceptional Bridge School tradition, celebrating the school's broad range of cultural diversity, will be held Friday, March 11, from 5:30 - 8:30 pm.  This year we will once again donate admissions proceeds to Boston-based Partners in Health for use in its Stand with Haiti campaign. 

 

Country Tables

A few more spaces remain!  Please contact Una Gillis at [email protected] if you would like to host a country table.  This is a wonderful way to teach the Bridge community about your country or a country you have visited. 

 

International Performances 
Does your child have a three-minute culturally based performance to share? If so, please contact, Victoria Campos at [email protected]
Applications for the limited number of performance slots will be accepted until Monday, February 14.  Past acts have included Egyptian drumming, Indian singing, Armenian dancing and Tae Kwan Do.  

 

If you want to volunteer in other ways that night, or have other questions, please email Cary Morse, Festival Chair, at [email protected].
 

 All are welcome to attend the upcoming International Festival Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 2, 10:30 am at 449 Waltham St.  (Please park on Bridge St.) 
 

Bridge Adults: You're Invited to our First Winter Ball!

A casual, adults-only, fun filled evening of music, raffles, & silent auction!

WHEN:        Friday, February 4, 7:30 - 10:30 pm

WHERE:       NEW LOCATION: Knights of Columbus, 177 Bedford Street, Lexington

WHY:           A PTA FUNdraiser for The Bridge School "Wishing Well" Program
HOW:          Visit www.bridgewinterball.org for tickets, a listing of auction items, and 
                   information; or contact Shannon Amsler at [email protected].

Let's have a Ball AND grant some wishes! 
Estabrook AntiBias Committee to host Including Samuel 2/10

On February 10, the Estabrook AntiBias Committee will be hosting a free screening of the documentary film Including Samuel, a documentary film by Dan Habib

 

Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, photojournalist Dan Habib rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Shot and produced over four years, Habib's award-winning documentary film, Including Samuel, chronicles the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives. The film honestly portrays his family's hopes and struggles as well as the experiences of four other individuals with disabilities and their families. Including Samuel is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion.  For more information, go to www.includingsamuel.com.

 

The committee's purpose for screening this film is to bring the school community together to discuss a topic that is relevant to our school and family lives. Last year, our committee's focus was around including and supporting students with differing abilities. This year we would like to extend these discussions to include parents, guardians, and staff within the community.

 

When:  Thursday February 10, 2011 6:30-8:30 pm

Where: Estabrook School

What:   Film, discussion (and cookie swap!)

Who:    For parents and guardians only

 

Please pre-register by sending an email to Kristina Lieberman at [email protected] or Jesse Richardson at [email protected] by Friday, January 28th, 2011.

PTA Seeking Committee Chairs for 2011-2012:


Annual Book Fair Needs You!
This year, Bridge School had a very successful Book Fair, sponsored by the PTA.  The Book Fair directly impacts the students of Bridge School by providing needed support to the library curriculum.  Next year, our Book Fair Chair, Sue Wilner, will be moving on with her fifth grader.  We are looking for someone to take over this very important post.  If you are interested, please e-mail Principal Colella at [email protected].
ACT Needs Your Help!
Bridge School's Arts Created Together (ACT) program has helped to bring cultural events, dancers, and performers to the students of Bridge.  At the end of this year, our current Co-Presidents of ACT will be moving on as their fifth graders are graduating.  We are looking for two people to take over the leadership of this incredibly important program.  The current presidents are willing to train you and work with you so that the transition is smooth.  If you are interested, please contact Principal Colella at [email protected].

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