Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge by PTA volunteers
November 21, 2011                                                                Vol. 16, Issue 13

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bridge Elementary School
55 Middleby Road, Lexington, MA  02421
(781) 861-2510

Bridge School Web Site:  http://lps.lexingtonma.org/bridgees
Bridge PTA Web Site:  http://www.BridgePTA.org 
  
Upcoming Events
Nov 21, Mon 

FINAL Deadline for Square1Art orders  

 

Nov 21, Mon 7:30 pm at Sacred Heart Parish Hall

Campaign Kickoff Meeting for YES for Our Schools 

 

Nov 23, Wed DATE EXTENDED

Deadline for dropping off UNICEF boxes

 

Nov 23, Wed

1/2 day -- Thanksgiving Break

 

Nov 24-25

No School -- Thanksgiving Break   

 

Nov 29, Tues 7:00-9:00 pm at Clarke School Auditorium

Evening with Author and Family Life Educator Lynne Griffin 

  

Dec 1, Thurs 6:00-7:00 pm NOTE TIME CHANGE

Word Night for K-1st grade   

  

Dec 4, Sun

Luminary Night 

 

Dec 5-9

Annual Bridge Scholastic Book Fair  

   

Dec 8, Thurs 6:00-7:30 pm NOTE TIME CHANGE 

Word Night for Grades 2-5

 

Dec 8, Thurs 2:30-7:30 pm at the Lexington Depot

LEF Multicultural Bazaar 

  

Dec 9, Fri 3:15-4:15 pm in the Bridge cafeteria

Gift Drive Holiday Card Making  

 

Dec 15, Thurs

Submissions to Eco-Bridge Logo Contest Due 

  

Dec 23, Fri

Deadline for Reflections submissions 

  

Dec 26-Jan 2

No School -- Winter Break 

Jokes of the Week
Q:  What side of the turkey has the most feathers?
A:   The outside!

Q:  What kind of music did the Pilgrims like?
A:   Plymouth Rock! 
Next B2H Deadline 
NEXT DEADLINE:  Thurs, Nov. 24, 5 PM

Please submit by email (preferably in text format only)
to Aimee Burstein.  Articles must be reviewed and approved by Bridge PTA Co-Presidents and/or Bridge Principal Meg Colella.  
In This Issue...
Evening with Author and Educator Lynne Griffin 11/29
Town Meeting Approves Renovation Project
Lexington Farmers' Market at Seasons' Four 11/22
LEF's Multicultural Bazaar 12/8
Make Cuddle Dolls for Zambian Children
Movember Raises Awareness and Money for Cancer
Eco-Bridge Logo Contest Entries Due 12/15
SRTS Turkey Trot a Huge Success
Family Word Night is Back Again
Bridge PTA Scholastic Book Fair 12/5-9
Submit Your Entries to Reflections
Set Lexington Aglow on Luminary Night 12/4
Sally Foster Gift Wrap Fundraiser
Register Your Stop and Shop Card and Earn Money for Bridge
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 PTA Web site.  

 

Subscribe to receive weekly B2H e-mail

Lost and Found
Please remember to mark winter wear.  Click here for more info.
 LATEST NEWS    
 
Evening with Author and Educator Lynne Griffin 11/29

Predict, prepare, and partner-

Building a strong foundation for success in school

 

Already arguing with your child over homework?

Is your child struggling to find friends or fit in?

Are you worried your child is impulsive, negative, or just plain stressed out?

 

Every child has challenges at school.

And every parent has concerns about how to best help his or her child to be successful in class, at lunch, and on the playground.

 

An Evening with author and family life educator Lynne Griffin

She is the author of the nonfiction parenting guide, Negotiation Generation (Penguin, 2007) and the novels Sea Escape (Simon & Schuster, 2010) and Life Without Summer (St. Martin's Press). Ms. Griffin is the family life contributor for Boston's Fox Morning News.

 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

7:00-9:00PM

Clarke Middle School Auditorium

 

Families from Bowman, Bridge and Harrington School

Principals Mary Anton, Meg Colella, Elaine Mead,

and Steve Flynn


Town Meeting Approves Bridge/Bowman Renovation Project
Newsflash:
YES for Our Schools is the official Campaign that has been formed to galvanize Lexington voters to support passage of a debt exclusion on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. Two questions will appear on the January ballot asking Lexington voters to support the renovation of Bridge School and Bowman School, and the construction of a new Estabrook School.
 
The Campaign's kick-off meeting will be today, Monday, November 21 at 7:30 pm at Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 21 Follen Road.  Click here to learn more about what you can do to get involved. 

Click here to read the Lexington Patch or here to read the Lexington Minuteman article on the Town Meeting.

Reminder:
   
You must be registered to vote in order to participate in the Special Town Election to fund the Bridge/Bowman Renovation Project.  IF YOU SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS TO BRIDGE SCHOOL, YOU NEED TO VOTE!!  The deadline to register to vote is January 4, 2012 to be eligible for the January 24th Special Election.  Click here to learn how to register today!

Other Info:
Keep up to date on other Renovation News.  Please read the Frequently Asked Questions about the Bridge, Bowman, and Estabrook Projects, check out the project overview, and take a virtual tour of the Bridge boiler!   

To learn more about renovation specifics contact Meg Colella, Pat Goddard, or Rebecca Moore

To learn more about the Debt-Exclusion Campaign to support this initiative, contact Ann BoeseRebecca Moore, or Justine Wirtanen.  You can also visit the YES For Our Schools Facebook Page or website. 
Lexington Farmers' Market at Seasons' Four 11/22
Next Tuesday 11/22, the Lexington Farmers' Market will hold its Thanksgiving FEASTival at Seasons' Four (1265 Mass Ave in Lexington) from Noon to 4 pm.  There will be yummy goodies as well as a few holiday gifts!  Something for the whole family to enjoy!

Click here for more information.
Mark Your Calendars for LEF's Multicultural Bazaar!
Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) will hold its first annual Global Treasures Multicultural Bazaar on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at the Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square, Lexington, from 2:30-7:30 pm.  This event will celebrate Lexington's diverse student population and promote awareness of LEF's work supporting teacher initiatives in our schools.
 
Global Treasures will feature global gifts created by talented local artisans and designers.  It will also include live music and dance performances by children, highlighting a variety of world traditions.  Families will enjoy art and history demonstrations by LEF grant recipients who were awarded study programs in Africa, China, and India.

Shubrah Design, MITTI pottery studio, Kinara, and Mei Mei Jewelry are samples of the kinds of vendor who will be present.  Live acts will include performances from The Lexington Chamber Music Youth Ensemble, the Clarke Middle-Cs, Academy of Irish Dance, Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association Yoyo Group, Lexington Chamber Music Center and the American Chinese Art Society Dance Troup, to name a few.

Clarke Middle School Visual Arts Teacher, Althea Roy, and LHS World History teachers Julia Kuo and Brooke Forrelli will demonstrate how their study tours of China and India enhance their teaching. A full list of vendors and schedule of performers will be available on the LEF website.

Join us for this multi-faceted and colorful new event!

Founded in 1989, Lexington Education Foundation, an independent,charitable organization, is dedicated to funding grants to bring 21st century technologies, training and innovative instruction into Lexington Public School classrooms.  LEF is not affiliated with the Lexington Public Schools.
Help Make Cuddle Dolls for Zambian Orphanage Children!
Dear Bridge Friends,
 
First of all I want to thank each and everyone of Cuddle Dollsyou for your wonderful support these last four years. You ALL have made amazing things possible. Ng'Ombe, the community we have spent a good deal of time in, has changed terrifically during this time.  To quote Teacher Nina, as I asked her if all her children went on to First Grade, she very softly whispered to me that her children went directly to Second, thus skipping the First Grade.  You have all done amazing things for these children, as well as for Nina. Much love and many blessings to each and every one of you.

I would also like to offer to all of you knitters, for I know there are many in our Bridge community who might be interested, the knit pattern (or crochet) for the small "Cuddle Dolls" we took last summer to the Kasisi Orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia.  We took 100 dolls and there are 200 orphans there.  We will also be taking them to the Kabwata Orphanage in Lusaka.  As many of you may know there are now Adult Girl Scouts knitting in town, as well as knitters at several churches.  Jennifer Fraser's mother also has a knitting group that extends to South Carolina; and they, too, are knitting and have already given me 50 dolls for summer 2012.  Lexington's own Wild & Woolly shop also has the patterns and the dolls on display, for they are the ones who actually pushed me initially to contact The Lexington Minuteman.

I am happy to show you the dolls and will have patterns with me at school, so do not hesitate to ask. I am also available via email and can send you the pattern that way, too.  The patterns are EASY, and they are an amazing gift to the children.

Bless each and everyone of you,
Ruth Litchfield
Bridge School Male Staff Raise Cancer Awareness and Research Funds

It's Movember, the month formerly known as November, which is dedicated to growing moustaches to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research.  Many of the male staff members at Bridge have joined the movement and will be donating their upper lips to the cause for 30 days. Their moustaches (Mo) will spark conversations and no doubt generate some laughs.  Please support our efforts by making a donation. We only have a month to grow Mo's to raise awareness and funds for men's health, so please come along for the ride.

Eco-Bridge Announces Logo Art Contest -- Submit Entries by 12/15
Kids: Get your pencils, markers, pastels, or Adobe products out!  You have until December 15th to create and submit your own logo for Eco-Bridge.  The logo should relate to Bridge and "being green" (e.g., 3Rs - reduce/reuse/recycle).  

Please submit your entries in the green box in the school entryway on 8.5x11 paper, with your name and class-code written on the back.  All entries will be judged by local artist and Bridge parent, Java Joshi.  Winning entries will be published on the school website and imprinted on Eco-Bridge aprons and merchandise!  Questions? Please contact Nimisha Ashthagiri.

Thanks to the following student eco-leaders (a.k.a. Radical Recyclers) for helping kids recycle at lunch last week: Nanoko Asakura, Laura Bagorad, Rylee Wirtanen, Tiffany Leung, Zoe Prestbo, Stella The, Nicholas McKee, Collin McMahon-Shea, Tara Gill, and Jacqueline Mitzenmacher.   

Green Tip! Change the default margins on your documents!  If you reduce your margins to .75", you'll save 4.75% paper!  In some applications, you can change the margins by going to the "File" menu, and clicking on "Page Setup".  On other applications, go to the "Format" menu, and click on "Document" or "Margins".
SRTS Turkey Trot a Huge Success
Safe Routes to School Walking Wednesday reported theTurkey Trot
highest participation ever! We had 199 Bridge students participate in the SRTS "Turkey Trot" on November 9.  The second grade had the highest turn-out, with 40 kids either walking, biking, scootering, carpooling, or riding the bus to school.  Let's keep up the great work every day, to keep healthy and to keep the cars and the unhealthy exhaust away from school! 

The two classes winning the Golden Sneaker Award are

Grades K-2:
Ms. Katz's 2nd grade: Walkers, bikers, carpoolers, and bus riders were:
Ella, Martin, Ryan, Till, Jack, David, Leo M. Elena, Leo S., Syarriah, and Gianalyse

Grades 3-5:
Ms. Michael's 4th grade: Walkers, bikers, carpoolers, and bus riders were:
Tucker, Noah, Malte, David, Charlotte, Amy, Emily, Rishi, Maggie, Friso, Eliza, and  Kelly.

Ms. Michael's class had an impressive number of walkers and bikers -- 11 !

A special mention goes to all of the kindergarten walkers and bikers:
From Ms. Werbeloff's class: Reina, Berklie, and Neil
From Ms. Sciaretta's class: Allison, Christian, Nolan, and Matthew
From Ms. Labranche's class: Nick and Malee
From Ms. Baranosky's class: Sarah, Haynes, Vikram, John, Emily, and Lauren.  

Finally, a special thanks to SRTS volunteers Julia Carpenter-Conlan, Victoria Campos, and Joan Zhong.  
 UPDATES --- to prior articles   
 
Family Word Night is Back Again!
The Planning Committee has planned a plethora of problems to solve and interactive games to play for both Family Word Nights.  Kindergarten and First Grade Word Night is 12/1 from 6:00-7:00 pm, and Grades Two through Five will come on 12/8 from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Click here for more information.

Parents and older siblings are needed to assist with Word Night activities, particularly on 12/8.  Please let us know if you would like to help.  Thank you!

For more information, please contact Mary Jayne Fay or Kristen Baranofsky.

Bridge PTA Scholastic Book Fair 12/5-9!
Please come to our annual Bridge School Scholastic Book Fair, a reading event packed with excitement for students and families!  Join us from Monday, December 5 to Friday, December 9, any time during Book Fair hours (schedule below) to support the student in your life and to promote literacy.  This a perfect opportunity for holiday shopping while supporting Bridge!  Please join us to make this Book Fair the BEST our school has ever seen.  You can visit our homepage for more information. 

If you have any questions please contact Cathy Smith.  If you would like to volunteer during the Book Fair please contact Amy White or Anne Bruno.

Thank you and we can't wait see you there!
 
Book Fair Dates & Hours:
Monday 12/5:      1 pm- 4 pm
Tuesday 12/6:      8 am- 4 pm  
Wednesday 12/7: 8 am-4 pm & 6 pm-8 pm Special Family Night!!
Thursday 12/8:    8am-1pm
Friday 12/9:        8am-11am


Class Schedule:
2011 book fair class schedule

Submit Your Entries to Reflections

"REFLECTIONS" is Upon Us!   This national PTA program enhances quality arts education for grades K-12.  This year's theme is "Diversity Means ...."   Your artwork must relate to the theme!  Children can submit their own artwork in Photograph,  

Visual Art, Literature, Musical Composition, Dance Choreography, or Film/Video Production.

 

The deadline for submitting artwork to Bridge School is December 23, 2011.  Stay tuned for details.  Click here for more general info or here for entry forms and official rules . 

 

Questions?  Please contact Bruce Rubenstein.       

 REMINDERS --- links to previous items  
 
Set Lexington Aglow on Luminary Night 12/4
The third annual Luminary Night will take place on Sunday, December 4th from 5:00-7:00 pm.  By purchasing luminary kits, you can support the Bridge PTA -- 50% of the proceeds of all kits sold through our school will go to the PTA.

For more information please email [email protected], click here, or visit www.lexfun.org.
Sally Foster Gift Wrap Fundraiser Continues
Need some wrapping paper for the holidays?  Order online through Sally Foster and 40% of all sales will to go support the Bridge School PTA.  There are hundreds of pattern selections (and gifts too), and you receive free shipping on any order over $50.  All orders shipped directly to your home.

Click here to order and don't forget to use Bridge School Code #10070172.

For more information see the flyer on the PTA website.    Questions?  Contact Heidi Epstein.
Register Your Stop & Shop Card $ for Bridge
Click here to learn more.

2011-2012 PTA Executive Committee Members

CO-PRESIDENTS

Justine Wirtanen 

Rebecca Reynolds Moore 

 

CO-VICE PRESIDENTS

Victoria Campos

Stephanie Mitzenmacher

Laura Schroeder

Cathy Smith 

Guorong Zhu

Susan Kingsbury  

  

TREASURER

Tricia Weisberg 

SECRETARY

Suzanne Lau 

Bridge School Office Staff

 

PRINCIPAL

Margaret Colella 

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Erin Maguire  

ADMINISTRATIVE ASST

Marcia Cavatorta

GUIDANCE

Lucia Gates

NURSE

Diane Celi