Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge by PTA volunteers 
June 11, 2012                                                           Vol. 16, Issue 41

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
June 14, Thurs 10:00 am-12:00 pm
5th Grade Moving On Ceremony

June 15, Fri (raindate 6/18) 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Field Day (see below for exact schedule)

June 15, Fri 2:00-3:30 pm
4th Grade Fiesta

June 18, Mon 9:00-9:30 am
Move Up Day

June 18, Mon 1:30-3:30 pm (raindate 6/19, 9:00 am)
5th Grade vs Staff Kickball Game

June 19, Tues
Last Day of School (half day)

Aug 28, Tues
First Day of School (half day)

Aug 31, Fri
No School
Jokes of the Week
Q: Why did the clock in the cafeteria always run slow?
A: Every lunch it went back four seconds!

Q: Why is 2+2=5 like your left foot?
A:  It's not right.

 

Subscribe to receive weekly B2H e-mail

  

Deadline for Last B2H of 2011-12 
NEXT DEADLINE:  Thursday, June 14, 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...
Math Team Forming for 2012-13
Ms. Katz Class Sponsors Cradles to Crayons Drive
Cary Summer Reading Programs
2012-13 Site Based Council Members Announced
Calendar for 2012-13
PTA Committee Chair Vacancies for 2012-2013
Kids Cooking Green Registration Now Open For Fall 2012 Session
End of Year Activities
Bridge to Home to Shift Format in 2012-13
The STARs Are Out
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
Lost and Found
The end of the year is nearly here.  Please check the lost and found for missing items before school is out.  Click here for more info.
 LATEST NEWS     
 
2012-13 Math Team Forming for Bridge School Students
Hello Bridge 2012-13 4th/5th Grade Families!  With the help of an experienced Math Olympiad (MO) coach and the support of Bridge parents, a math team for Bridge School students will be formed for participation of MO contests starting in Fall 2012. 

The Math Team is open to all Bridge School students entering 4th/5th grades as of Fall 2012, with a maximum 20 students.  The team will meet after school (3:15 pm to 4:45 pm) every 2nd Tuesday of each month from September 2012 to March 2013. The cost is $80 for each student for the entire school year.

Click here for detailed information and here for the application form.  Please return the completed form to the box in the front entry way marked "MATH TEAM".  The registration deadline is June 15, 2012.  Please contact Angela Chang with questions.
Donations Sought for Cradles to Crayons
As we end the school year, Ms. Katz' 2nd grade class is collecting for Cradles to Crayons.  We need crib bedding, blankets, sheets, arts and crafts supplies (like construction paper, 1 inch binders, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, kids' scissors, and rulers), toys for 1-2 and 7-10 year olds, boys pants size 5/6, sneakers infant size 7 through youth/adult size 5, men's sneakers 6-8, and baby board books.  Please click here for full list of desired items.

All donations can be sent in with your child and dropped off outside of Room 136 near the main entrance to the school by Friday, June 15th.  Ms. Katz and Melissa Hughes will deliver them. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Katz or Melissa Hughes.

Cradles to Crayons is a really terrific program which provides local homeless and low income children with the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued.  Currently serving the Boston and Philadelphia areas, C2C also offers opportunities for families and children to do community service.
 
Thanks!
Cary Summer Reading Programs
DREAM BIG, READ!
Sign up beginning: June 4
Reading ends: August 27
Last day to report and choose prizes: September 15
All ages

Our goal is to motivate all Lexington children to read, by themselves or with their families, for at least 15 minutes every day this summer. Each time you complete 600 minutes (that's 10 hours) of reading, you may choose a small prize (a toy or a paperback book). Print a reading log to keep track of the time you spend reading or being read to.

Sign up in the Children's Room beginning June 4!

Bat Conservation International
For every 10 hours read, the Friends of Cary Memorial Library will donate 10� to support reasearch to help bats. For more information, visit the Bat Conservation International web site.

Twelve stuffed animal bats will be raffled off to summer reading participants throughout the summer.

TAKE THE READING CHALLENGE!
Sign up beginning: June 6
Reading ends: August 29
Last day to report and choose prizes: September 17
Entering Grade 4 & up
Beginning Monday June 4, stop by Cary Library to pick up a Reading Challenge form or print a form online.

Read one book in each of the ten categories, bring your completed Reading Challenge form to Cary Library, and receive a special prize. We will also add your name to our 2012 Reading Challenge Wall of Fame!

For more information, click here.
2012-13 Site Based Council Members Announced
The 2012-2013 Site Based Council Elections took place on May 18, 2012.  Please welcome our newly elected SBC members:

Co-Chairs: Meg Colella and Naomi Priver
Parents/Community Members:
Nimisha Astagari
Deb Sabin
Angela Chang
Susan Orenstein
Sean Osborne

Bridge Staff Members:
Lynnette Allen
Russ Bosbach
Betsy Conway
Deidre Schadler
Debbie Side

Meeting Dates for 2012:
Location: Bridge Library
Time: 8:00am-8:30am
Dates: September 28, October 19, November 16, December 14, January 25, February 15, March 22, April 26, and May 24
First Day of 2012-13 School Year is 8/27
The 2012-13 school year starts 8/27 with a half day.  Click here for the new school year calendar.
 UPDATES --- to prior articles     
 
PTA Committee Chair Vacancies for 2012-2013
The PTA Executive Committee is currently seeking parent volunteers to chair or co-chair the following Committees next year:

Evening Auction Chair & Co-Chairs    

A bi-annual evening event that raises funds for PTA programs while allowing parents and teachers an entertaining "night out". 

Fifth Grade Activities  Co-Chair
This committee organizes all special fifth grade activities (graduation party, class gift, t-shirts) and fundraising initiatives to support these activities and to defray the cost of the fifth grade camping trip. 

Hospitality

This committee helps coordinate refreshments for PTA-sponsored coffees.

300th Liaison
This committee acts as a liaison between Bridge and the the committee organizing the community-wide events around the 300th Anniversary of the founding of Lexington.
 
Safe Routes to School Co-Chair

SR2S is a national program with a mission of decreasing car congestion around the school by promoting walking, biking, bus riding and carpooling. Chairs work in cooperation with the town Sidewalk Committee to improve walking and biking routes to Bridge School, and hold monthly "Walking Wednesday" programs.

Newcomers Welcoming
This committee welcomes newcomers to Bridge School and the Bridge Community.

Teachers' Appreciation
This committee coordinates two before-school breakfasts for Faculty and Staff.

Valentine Mailboxes

This committee organizes classrooms' participation in school-wide post-office operations.

Spring Fling Social Chair & Co-Chairs 
A fun family event for the entire Bridge Community. An all-school evening party with catered food and entertainment.

Please contact  Rebecca Moore, Justine Wirtanen, or Sue Kingsbury ASAP if any of these positions are of interest.
  Thank you!
Kids Cooking Green
Incoming fifth graders, join us for a five-week after-school program where we'll explore what makes food taste good, learn about nutrition, visit a local farm or Market and plan, and prepare a fabulous dinner celebration for your family and friends. Because of construction at Bridge School, ALL classes for Kids Cooking Green will be
held at Community Nursery School, 2325 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. Class meets Thursdays 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, and 11/8 from 12:30 to 3:15 pm. On Thursday, November 1 the class meets 3:15 to 7:30 pm, with the kids cooking from 3-6 and guests coming for dinner at 6:15. The cost of the program is $250.00.   Scholarship assistance is available through the PTA.

Please click here to download the Registration Form and to learn more details.  NOTE: Registration limited to the first 14 Bridge students that register.

Kids Cooking Green is the educational outreach program of the Lexington Farmers' Market and has the support of the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets, a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization.  For more information about KIDS COOKING GREEN go to their website or contact Lori Deliso via email or call 617-212-2820.
End of Year Activities

Field Day 2012 -- Friday, June 15th (Rain date June 18th)

Opening Ceremonies 8:45 am

Grades 4 & 5:  9:00-10:00

Grades K & 1: 10:15-11:15

Grades 2 & 3: 11:30-12:30

 

"Move Up Day" -- Monday, June 18th
9:00 am - 9:30 am
     

 

5th Grade vs. Staff Kickball Game -- Monday, June 18th

1:30-3:30 pm

 

Click here to check out the 5/20 Principal's Corner for more details on any of these activities. 

Bridge to Home to Shift Format in 2012-13

Bridge to Home is changing its format starting next fall.  There will be a monthly B2H, with complete information, text, and calendar items.   A hard copy of each issue will also be printed out and kept in a binder with other PTA materials in the Front Foyer for parents to peruse.  There will also be a weekly, web link-based B2H that will be easier to read on smart phones and other portable devices.  This will focus primarily on what is going on that week and will also include a reminder section of deadlines for upcoming events. The process for submitting to either version will be the same, although the deadlines will be different for the 2 versions.  We are still developing the guidelines, so please check back here later in the summer for full details.

 

We hope that these changes will improve communication in the Bridge Community.  Click here for more details.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Aimee Burstein.
 REMINDERS --- links to previous items      
 
The STARs Are Out
Thinking about end-of-year teachers' gifts?  Consider purchasing a Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) STAR (Staff Teacher Appreciation and Recognition) Award certificate to thank and honor that special individual teacher or group of educators, as well as fund LEF's education grants program.  Individual Awards are $25 and Team or Group Awards (such as middle school teams or school administration staff) are $50. 

Look for the yellow STAR Award Certificate order form in your child's backpack, a STAR letter in your home mailbox, or go to the LEF website.  Questions?  Click here for more information or call the LEF office at 781-372-3288.  Thank you for supporting the Lexington Public Schools! 

The Lexington Education Foundation is not affiliated with the Lexington Public Schools.

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