Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge by PTA volunteers 
May 7, 2012                                                           Vol. 16, Issue 36

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
May 7, Mon
MCAS Testing Begins

May 9, Wed
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast Kindergarten-Grade 2

May 12, Sat
LEXFUN Consignment Sale (see below)

May 16, Wed
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast Grades 3-5

May 18, Fri 8:00 am
Bridge Site Based Council Meeting -- Elections

May 28, Mon
No School -- Holiday

May 31, Thurs
Kindergarten Visitation Day

June 9, Sat
5th Grade Graduation Party
Jokes of the Week
Q: Why did the mother cat move her kittens?
A:  She didn't want to litter.

Q: What did Zero say to Eight?
A:  Nice belt! 
Next B2H Deadline 
NEXT DEADLINE:  Thursday, May 10, 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.  Please see the B2H webpage for submission guidelines.   
In This Issue...
Transportation Updates
Wishing Well News
Second Annual FOLMADS Art Auction 5/11
Bridge Gardens Look Great, Thanks to Volunteers
Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts 5/9 and 5/16.
LexFUN! 2012 Consignment Sale 5/12
Be a Part of Lexington's Tricentennial Celebrations!
Spring Programs at Cary Library.
The PTA Wants You!.
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
Missing Something? Check the Lost & Found! The Bridge Lost & Found is overflowing with lost items.  Click here for more info.
 LATEST NEWS     
 
Transportation Updates
ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONCERNS AT BRIDGE SCHOOL
We are working on strategies to mitigate traffic and ensure safety at Bridge School next year.  The best solution is to sign your child up for the bus.  Parents, please consider your transportation plans for next year now and review all the new changes that are being made to busing.

NOTE TO FAMILIES THAT PARK THEIR CARS AT PICK-UP
There has been public concern about cars parking and queuing on Middleby Road during pick-up in the afternoon, and this may be prohibited in the future (e.g. tickets issued).  We ask that you use alternative parking lots, such as the Old Reservoir parking lot, if you plan to park and pick up your children OR consider the school bus.

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM
The Town, PTAs, and concerned parents have been working hard to develop strategies to reduce the number of cars on the roads during morning and afternoon school hours and to improve the school bus program. Please take a moment to review these initiatives and consider signing your child up for the bus next year:
  • Article 17 (passed in April) reduces the cost of busing to $300/student with a family cap of $750 (for 3+ students).
  • Reduction of travel time and efficiencies for each route.
  • Potential addition of special after school buses to bring elementary students to after school programs around town, expanding on the Hayden service currently provided. This service will be included with the purchase of a round trip bus pass. A list of programs will be available later in May.
  • More Flexpass services for High School and new option for Middle School students to take Lexpress starting at 4:00. This option will cost $50.00/student with no family cap.  
For more information, click here and/or contact Elaine Celi, Transportation Coordinator for the Lexington Public Schools, at 781-861-2540.  Bus sign-up packets have been sent home and can also be found here.
Wishing Well News
It has been a very busy month for the Wishing Well.  Thank you to all of the generous Wishing Well donors. This year so far, more than 40 wishes have been granted. 

The following Wishes were recently granted:
  • Ms. Baranofsky's wish for Store More Sentence Strip Boxes was granted by the Jolley & Weisberg families.
  • Mr. Lambert's wishes for a classroom map and privacy panels were granted by the Fernandez/Corbett, Fox, Stojanovic, McGaraghan, Steines, Mostika, Schroeder, Johnson, and Minks families.
  • Mr. Lambert's wish for playing cards was granted by the Swirnoff family.
  • Mr. Plamondon's wish for Dice Activities was granted by the Charney family.
  • Ms. Hinton's wishes for Theater Script Boxes, Book & Binder Holders and Privacy Petitions were granted by some anonymous families and the Kuechle family.  
  • Ms. Bean's wish for a digital camera was granted.
  • Ms. Sciarretta's wish for a rug was granted by the Rando family.
  • Ms. Baranofsky's request for a timer was granted by John Fullerton.
  • Mr. Cavatorta's wish for storage bins was granted by the Healy/Munchmeyer family.
  • Mr. Plamondon's wish for classroom paper baskets was granted by his classroom.
  • Ms. O'Reilly's wish for Reader's Theater Stories was granted by a parent in her classroom.
  • Ms. Sciarretta has now received $60 towards her magnetic white board wish.
  • Ms. Bates wishes for a privacy petition and white board were granted by her classroom.
  • Ms. O'Reilly's wish for staplers was granted by the Ahuja family.
We are planning to close out the wishing well on June 1st for the year. Our goal is to grant all of the staff's wishes by that date. Kindly consider granting a wish for your child's teacher or one of the Bridge School staff members. These make great end-of-year teacher/staff gifts.  Click here for the full list of wishes waiting to be fulfilled.

The following staff members still have Wishes left in the Wishing Well:
Ms. Werbeloff,  Ms. Sciarretta, Ms. Baranofsky, Ms. Yee, Ms. Hinton, Ms. OReilly, 2nd Grade Teachers, Ms. Conway, Ms. Diamant, Mr. Lambert, Ms. Bean, Ms. Colby, Ms. Arena, Ms. Gates, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Harney and Ms. Croy. 

There are also some new wishes in the Wishing Well:
  • Ms. Arena wished for an electric pencil sharpener  ($30.00) and some staplers ($30.00).
  • Ms. Yee wished for computer speakers for her ELMO ($70.00) and a mailbox center ($100.00).
  • Mr. Lambert wished for a supply cart ($75.00).
  • Ms. Diamant wished for storage bins ($20.00).
  • The second grade teachers wished for Social Studies curriculum unit on Traditions and Customs. It is a curriculum based on the Material World Family, including 12 posters, curriculum guide with PowerPoint� presentation, DVD, paperback. The cost is $169.00 plus shipping. Click here to order.    
How to Grant a Wish
If you would like to grant a wish (or get together with a group of parents to grant a wish), you may either purchase the wish item directly and give it to the teacher or you may send a check to the Bridge School PTA.  Please put the name of the teacher and the wish in the memo section of your check before sending it along.  There is a dedicated box for the Wishing Well on the PTA table.  Contact Shannon Amsler for more information.
Second Annual FOLMADS Art Auction 5/11
Enjoy an afternoon of light refreshments, music and fine art at the Second Annual FOLMADS Art Auction Friday, May 11th from 4-7 pm at the Lexington Depot. Auction items include photographs, paintings, and ceramics by Lexington Public School's talented Fine Arts Faculty and juried pieces by students.  In addition to works of art come bid on a custom made collage and a bookmark making class--perfect for a birthday party or gals get together.

All proceeds will benefit the Friends of Lexington Music Art and Drama Students--a non-profit organization created to foster and promote excellence in the Fine and Performing Arts programs in the Lexington Public Schools.

Contact Information: Coordinator of Fine Arts, Sean Hagan, K-12, 781-861-2320 x 2022.

The Friends of Lexington Music, Art & Drama Students is a non-profit organization created to foster and promote excellence in the Fine and Performing Arts programs in the Lexington Public Schools.
Bridge Gardens Look Great, Thanks to Volunteers
Thanks to everyone who helped out at the Bridge gardens last week. The vegetable gardens are now ready to be planted by the 1st grade classes, and the herb and butterfly gardens are looking great too.

Thanks everyone!!!
Dianna Queheillalt
 UPDATES --- to prior articles     
 
Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts 5/9 and 5/16
During the year, each grade co-hosts a breakfast for our amazing Bridge School Teachers and Staff.  Our first breakfast, hosted by K-Grade 2, will be held on Wednesday, May 9th; and our second breakfast, hosted by Grades 3-5, will be held on Wednesday, May 16th. 

We will need volunteers to contribute, food, drinks, and paper goods.  We also need people to set-up and clean-up.  Please visit the appropriate sign-up website below to volunteer to bring something or to help that morning.  Items need to be dropped off in the teachers' lounge between 7-8 am the morning of the event.

If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Smith via email or at 781.863.0665. Thanks so much for your support!  
 
Clean Out and Cash In with LexFUN! 2012 Consignment Sale 5/12!
Is your house cluttered with things that your kids have grown out of?  Why not consign them at LexFUN's Annual Spring Consignment Sale on May 12th.   All sellers receive 50% of the proceeds, with the other 50% going towards LexFUN!'s Community and Preschool Scholarship Fund.  For more information, visit our Consignment Sale page on our LexFUN! website or contact our Consignment Sale Team.

You can also donate, rather than consign, items if you wish.  The designated drop off location is at 9 Phinney Road in Lexington.  Please put your items in a plastic garbage bag and leave them under the car port at the end of the driveway.  You will see a "LexFUN! drop off" sign.  All proceeds from donated items go directly to LexFUN!'s community and preschool scholarship fund.

Make your shopping list now and come to St. Brigid's Parish from 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday, May12th.  See you there!
Be a Part of Lexington's Tricentennial Celebrations!
Want to be a part of Lexington's history?   We are seeking one or more Bridge parents to serve as the Bridge PTA Liaison to the Lexington's 300th Anniversary Celebration Committee.  As liaison, you will help decide which events Bridge participates in.  The liaison will also coordinate between the 300th Committee and Bridge -- the Bridge faculty and staff as well as related BBY, ACT, & PTA programs. 

If interested, please contact Rebecca Moore or Justine Wirtanen.  For more information, click here.
 REMINDERS --- links to previous items      
 
Spring Programs at Cary Library
Cary Library will be hosting many special spring programs over the next few weeks including creating a video game, building a LEGO bug, making a book during Children's Book Week May 7-13, and watching a dance troupe.  Some programs have attendance limits and require advanced registration, so please call the Children's Room at Cary Library (781-862-6288, Ext. 170) and/or check out their website for details.

Coming in June....Look for more information about our Legofest.
The PTA Wants You
If you are interested in joining the PTA Executive Committee or Chairing a Committee for the 2012-2013 school year, or just looking for more ways to get involved at Bridge, please contact the Nominating Committee -- Suzanne Lau, Victoria Campos, or Sue Kingsbury. New faces are welcome.

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

Kerry Daley

GUIDANCE

Lucia Gates

NURSE

Diane Celi