Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge by PTA volunteers
May 30, 2011                                                                                                  Vol. 15, Issue 40

Bridge Elementary School
55 Middleby Road, Lexington, MA  02421
(781) 861-2510
 
Web Site:  http://bridge.lexingtonma.org 
  
Upcoming Events
May 30, Mon

No School -- Memorial Day   

 

June 1, Wed 3:30 pm

YES Rocket shoot on Bridge School playground (see below)

 

June 2, Thurs 1:00-3:00 pm

Bridge Kindergarten Orientation 

 

June 8, Wed, 7:30 pm in Bridge Gymnasium 

Spring Instrumental Concert

 

June 10, Fri, 1:45 pm 

4th Grade Fiesta with Grupo Fantasia Mariachi (see below)

 

June 10, Fri

Special "How Low Can We Go" Waste Free Friday (see below)

 

June 10, Fri 7-8:30 pm in Bridge Gymnasium

Zumba� Party to Benefit ACT 

 

June 11, Sat 2-5 pm

Japan Culture Fair (see below)

 

June 15, Wed 8:45 am

Final Bridge PTA Coffee (see below)

 

June 16, Thurs 10:00 am

5th Grade Graduation

 

June 17, Fri 

Field Day  

 

June 22, Wed

Last Day of School (1/2 day) 

 
 
Jokes of the Week
Q: Why did the pig want to become an actor?
A: Because he was a big ham!

Q: Two silk worms were in a race.  What was the result?
A:  A tie. 

 

Subscribe to receive weekly B2H e-mail

 

Next B2H Deadline
NEXT DEADLINE:  Thursday, June 2, 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...
Principal's Corner
Bridge PTA's Online Survey
Registration for Fall...Kids Cooking Green Class Starts Soon
Bridge Student Art at Cary Library Through 5/31
YES Rocket Shoot 6/1
Spring Instrumental Concert 6/8
Fourth Grade to Celebrate Mexican Culture 6/10
Eco-Bridge Special Waste Free Friday 6/10
A Zumba® Party on 6/10 to Benefit ACT
Japan Culture Fair 6/11
Final PTA Coffee 6/15
Fifth Grade to Graduate 6/16
Sign Up Now for Bridge Field Day 6/17
Animal Rescue League Drive a Grrrrreat Success
5th Grade Enjoys MFA Trip
Give an LEF Star
Lost and Found Overflowing
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

Archived B2H
Starting with the 8/6/2010 issue, past Bridge to Home issues are now archived on the Bridge Web site.  
Principal's Corner

End of the Year at Bridge

As the school year draws to a close, Bridge School staff is busy preparing the students to move on to the next grade.  They are closing the year with various festivities, as well as talking about what they can expect next year.  On Monday, June 20th, the students will take part in "Move Up Day."  The classrooms will travel as a whole to a classroom in the grade level in which they will be for the 2011-2012 school year.  For example, Mrs. Diamants' second grade class may move to Mr. Cavatorta's 3rd grade classroom on the 20th.  The students are told ahead of time that it is not necessarily the classroom in which they will be next year but a time for them to hear about what it's like to be in that grade.  The fifth graders will travel back to the kindergarten classrooms to enjoy some time reminiscing before moving onto Middle School. 

   

Thank You Mr. Harney 

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you that our Assistant Principal, Mr. John Harney, will be taking on a new position within the Lexington Public Schools next year.  While he has enjoyed his tenure as the Assistant Principal here at Bridge, he has decided to become a full time Education Team Leader for both Bridge and Hastings.  This will mean that he will continue in his capacity here at Bridge as the ETL but will also split his time as the ETL at Hastings.  John has certainly made a positive impact on the students and staff here at Bridge as the AP.  We are delighted to know that he will continue to be a part of Bridge School and will be able to further share his expertise in the area of special education at Hastings.

 

Welcome

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you our new Assistant Principal, Ms. Erin Maguire.  Erin comes to us from the Newton Public Schools.  We look forward to welcoming her to Bridge and are eager for her to meet the students, staff, and families.  I will formally introduce Erin at our PTA coffee on the first day of school.

 

 

Field Day and BBQ 

Please join us on June 17th for the annual Bridge School Field Day and BBQ.   You may come and watch your child(ren) during their Field Day events as well as joining us for a delicious BBQ lunch.  Please make sure to register on line. 

 

Bridge School Annual Field Day and BBQ

Friday, June 17th (Raindate: Monday June 20th)

 

Please read and respond to the link below to sign up for the event.

TO SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT AND TO REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.

 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BridgeSchoolFieldDayBBQ

 

We are going electronic!   Register online and pay online.  We strongly encourage you to pay for the Field Day lunches using your child's lunch account.   If you need to add money to the account to cover the event please do so early.  If you pay by check please make checks payable to: "Town of Lexington" and send the checks to the Bridge School Main Office.  Bridge Students eligible for free lunch will receive free lunch as usual and students eligible for reduced lunch will pay $.40.

 

Meg Colella

Principal 

Bridge PTA's Online Survey 

We'd like to hear your feedback about the Bridge PTA's 2010-2011 school year and better understand our community in preparation for next year.  Please take a few minutes to give us your 2 cents by clicking here:  Bridge PTA Online Survey .   The 100th survey will get a free PTA membership for 2011-2012!!

4th Grade Families - Registration for Fall Kids Cooking Green Class Starts Soon

Attention 4th graders: next fall, Kids Cooking Green will be offering it's 5-week after school program for 5th graders at Bridge School for the 5th year in a row.   Registration forms will be emailed out this Thursday, May 26th by room parents.

 

The classes will take place 3:15-5:15 pm on the five Tuesdays starting September 20th and ending October 18th.   Registration is 1st come, 1st served, with a maximum of 20 students.  Forms may be placed in the KIDS COOKING GREEN box on the PTA table in the front hall of school.

 

Any questions?  Please contact Liza Connolly at [email protected].

Bridge Student Art at Cary Library Through 5/31

This month 14 Bridge students have artwork hanging on the main level of Cary Library.  It looks fabulous!  Please stop by before May 31st and have a look at the wonderful display.  Ms. Murray wishes there was enough display space for every student in the school to hang their work! 

YES Rocket Shoot 6/1

The Youth Explorations in Science program will be holding its rocket shoot at 3:25 on Wednesday, June 1st, for the children in both the fall and spring sessions of the YES program.  We would like to invite parents, friends, and family who would like to attend the rocket launch, to join us that day. Anyone who would like to attend can meet us on the Bridge School playground at 3:25pm on the 1st.  If your child was in either session of the program, please have them meet me in the cafeteria right after
dismissal and we will join the parents on the playground.  The rocket shoot will take approximately one hour.  Hope to see you there!

Questions?  Please contact Larry Hill, YES Program Coordinator, at [email protected].

Join Us for the Spring Instrumental Concert 6/8

On Wednesday, June 8th at 7:30pm,  the Bridge Spring Instrumental Concert featuring the 5th grade band, 4th and 5th grade strings, and 3rd grade recorders will be held.  Please bring your family and friends and join us in the Bridge School Gymnasium for this wonderful concert.

Fourth Grade to Celebrate Mexican Culture 6/10 with Grupo Fantasia Mariachi 

On June 10, the fourth grade will conclude its uGrupo Fantasia Mariachinit on Mexico with a celebration of Mexican culture.  The fiesta will feature the live music of the Grupo Fantasia Mariachi band.

This event is possible through a partnership between Arts Created Together and the parents of the fourth grade students.  Many, many thanks for your generosity.

Eco-Bridge Special "How Low Can We Go" Waste Free Friday 6/10

Mark your Calendar for a special Waste Free Friday.... 
"HOW LOW CAN WE GO?" on  JUNE 10th!!

Waste Free Fridays have been a terrific success!  All grades are composting food waste, eliminating unconsumed liquids, and recycling clean trays and other plastics.  On average, "real" trash is reduced from 130 Lbs to ONLY 20 Lbs!

Did you know MA, our state alone, throws away enough trash PER DAY to fill Fenway Park (~38,000 tons per day)?  That's 12 pounds PER day PER person!

On June 10th, let's try our best to produce as little waste as possible: how low will we go?  Can we reach a goal of 10 lbs of trash from lunches for the entire school?   It's definitely possible if each of us contributes to a waste-free lunch day!

As an incentive, we will reward each child with a sticker when they show us how they have helped with our waste-free initiative. Here are a few ideas how you can help your child prepare for lunch on June 10th:

- Send a reusable water bottle in lieu of a juice box

- Use a reusable sandwich/snack container in lieu of ziploc bags (yes, it is possible to live without them); avoid single serving bags

- Send a cloth napkin and reusable utensils (that they can use all year long). Children who purchase school lunch can also do this.

Next week we will email more tips about making a "waste free" lunch.  On June 10th, we will all be "Trash Terminators" and try to set a Bridge School record.  

Any questions? Contact Marcia Gens at [email protected] or Nimisha Asthagiri at [email protected].
A Zumba Party on 6/10 to Benefit Arts Created Together (ACT)
Come dance to support ACT and get a great workout, too!

What: Zumba� is a Latin-inspired dance-fitness program blending international music and easy-to-follow steps to form a fun and incredibly effective workout that is exercise in disguise.
Hosted by: Zumba Instructors Ann Munchmeyer & Ami Stix with special guests from local clubs
When: Friday June 10, 7:00-8:30 pm
Where: Bridge School Gymnasium (please enter through the side door near the gym)
Cost: $15 adults, $5 for kids 10+ with parent only
Attire: Wear comfortable clothing and sneakers
Contact: To register in advance contact Ami Stix at [email protected].

No Dance Experience Required!

No wonder the slogan is "Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!"

Japan Culture Fair to Take Place 6/11 to Raise Funds for Japan

Please join us for the Japan Culture Fair "Lexington's Hope for Japan" on Saturday, June 11 from 2-5 pm.  help raise funds for Japanese earthquake/tsunami victims at Bridge School and experience Japanese culture at the Bridge School.   Take your picture in a Kimono, Japanese fencing, traditional tea ceremony, anime, crafts/book/bake sale, and much more fun! 

For more info, please check out https://sites.google.com/site/lexhopeforjapan/.  Questions? Please contact the committee at [email protected].

Final PTA Coffee on Bridge Renovation and Enrollment 6/15

The Bridge PTA is hosting its final PTA Coffee of the year on Wednesday, June 15th at 8:45am.  All members of the community are welcome.  Our Principal Meg Colella will give an update on the Bridge Renovation Plans, and our Superintendent Dr. Ash will be there to answer questions about the renovation and enrollment.  If you know of a question you would like to have answered, please email it to the PTA Presidents at [email protected].  

Fifth Grade to Graduate 6/16

Save the Date:  5th Grade Graduation, Thursday, June 16th 10:00 am, outside (weather permitting)

 

Events include:  graduation ceremony, slideshow, and a final "clap out" by the entire school (the 5th graders parade around the school), concluding with a cake reception in the cafeteria.   

 

Later that afternoon the 5th Grade Activities Committee will host a "Graduation Party" for all 5th graders from 1-3 pm at The Res and picnic area behind Bridge.  In the event of rain, the party will be held in the Bridge School gym.  Lunch will be served.  Stay tuned for more information.

Sign Up Now for Bridge Field Day 6/17

The Bridge School Annual Field Day and BBQ will take place on Friday, June 17th (Raindate: Monday June 20th).  This year, we are going electronic!   Register online and pay online.  We strongly encourage you to pay for the Field Day lunches using your child's lunch account.   If you need to add money to the account to cover the event please do so early. If you pay by check please make checks payable to: "Town of Lexington" and send the checks to the Bridge School Main Office.  Bridge Students eligible for free lunch will receive free lunch as usual and students eligible for reduced lunch will pay $0.40.

Cost:
Parents, siblings, and teachers:  $4.25
You must PAY AHEAD.  No cash will be taken on the day of the event.  All proceeds generated from this event go directly to the Lexington School District.

Sign Up:
To sign up for the event and register to volunteer, click this link.

To add money to your child's lunch account, click this link.

Menu:  (The day of the event, you will be allowed to pick two entrees)
1. Turkey Hot Dogs/Buns,
2. Cheeseburgers or Hamburgers
3. BBQ Chicken
4. Vegetarian Chili, Corn Muffins, Corn on the Cob

Help yourself to the delicious sides:  Caesar Salad, Tomato and Mozzarella Salad, Pasta Salad, Watermelon, Juices, Milk and Water

Dessert: Ice Cream and Toppings Bar!

Parents are welcome to visit the PTA Tent and to watch their children participate in Field Day Activities.

Grade Level      Field Day Activity Time              Lunch Time
4 and 5              9:00-10:00am                             1:00-1:45pm
K and 1             10:15-11:15am                            11:15-12:00pm
2 and 3             11:30-12:30am                            12:30-1:30pm

Animal Rescue League Drive a Grrrrreat Success!

Over 200 items were donated for the animals at the Animal Rescue League of Boston during our recent drive.  Thank you so much for all your great support and work on this.  The shelter staff were thrilled.  The generous Bridge community contributed:

11 cans wet dog food, 3 bags dry dog food, 4 bags dry cat food, 71 cans wet cat food, 35 dog toys, 22 bags of dog treats, 16 towels, 5 pet brushes, 4 jars of peanut butter, 1 pet tunnel, 18 cat toys, 5 collars, 1 leash, 1 fancy dog outfit, 2 applications of Frontline for cats, 1 heating pad, 2 cat carriers, 1 dog crate, 1 bag of puppy pads,
1 can of Just Born formula for kittens, 1 envelope full of stamps, $100, 1 box of thank you cards, and two dog beds

Wow!!!
5th Grade Enjoys MFA Trip
5th Grade at MFA
Richie McNamara, Quinn La Fond, Jonathan Stix, Stephen Alessandro, and Justice Matus visited a Presidential pal in the only room where the art could be touched.

ACT sponsored the recent 5th grade trip to Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.  The trip has become the annual culmination of the five to six years of the students spend studying Art History and studio techniques with Ms. Murray.  It gives the them an opportunity to see artworks in the context of a museum, with guides that can encourage and guide the students' inquiry and visual experience.  She points out: "We have a world-class art museum that is accessible to young students.  It is important for students to see art from different periods, especially contemporary art, in the context of history of Art movements."  Parent chaperones heard cries of recognition as the students recognized artwork they had studied during the year--art appreciation in action!!


Lexington Education Foundation STAR Awards ... the perfect gift! 

The school year is almost over, how will you honor and thank your child's teachers?    Lexington has a great school system because we have great teachers who encourage, guide, and inspire our children every day. Now is the time to recognize the extraordinary efforts of all the teachers and staff members who have made a difference in your child's education.

 

Show your appreciation with a LEF Staff Teacher Appreciation and Recognition award.   The STAR campaign is a unique, convenient, and meaningful way to say "thank you" that honors your child's teachers and school personnel AND benefits the entire Lexington school community.

 

How does the STAR campaign work? Donate to LEF's STAR program and tell us who you want to recognize. We send STAR award certificates to the designated teacher(s), team, or staff member(s). It's that simple.

       Individual STAR award -- $25 donation

       All-STAR team (such as a middle school team or school administrative staff) --         $50 donation per team.

 

You can choose to be acknowledged as the STAR donor and include a personal message, or you can remain anonymous. In either case, the amount of the gift is not indicated.

 

How do STAR donations support our schools? LEF is a non-profit organization supported entirely by contributions from our community and directed by a volunteer board. LEF is dedicated to funding high-quality grants that bring new technology and innovative instruction into the classrooms in all nine schools. The grant proposals come directly from our educators; the funding comes from YOU.

STARs can be purchased online at LEF's secure website http://www.lexedfoundation.org or by contacting the LEF office at 781-372-3288 or [email protected].   

The Lexington Education Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is not affiliated with the Lexington Public Schools. Thank you for your generous support!

Lost and Found

Lands End, LL Bean, Columbia, Rugged Bear! Hoodies, raincoats, fleece jackets, long-sleeve shirts, vests, lunch boxes!  Is this a rummage sale?  Nope, this is the Bridge School Lost and Found!  With the cool and variable spring weather, the number of items in Lost and Found is exploding!  Check your closet for missing items, write your surname in a clearly visible place, look through the Lost and Found and claim your items.  Spread the word to T-ball, baseball and softball teams playing at Bridge. Items are donated after 5 weeks, and everything that remains will be donated at the end of the school year.

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