Bridge to Home                                         Bridge Mural
   A weekly publication about Bridge by PTA volunteers 
June 18, 2012                                                           Vol. 16, Issue 42

Have a Good Summer! 

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 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: Where did the pencil go for vacation?
A:  To Pennsylvania!

Q:  Where do rocks like to spend summer vacation?
A:  To Pebble Beach! 
Lost and Found
Please make a last check of the lost and found for missing items before school is out.  Click here for more info.

 

Subscribe to receive weekly B2H e-mail

  

In This Issue...
Principal's Corner
Principals for the Day!
Special Staff Thanks
Field Day Fun
Bridge PTA Highlights
Gardeners Needed Over the Summer and Next Year
Thank You Eco-Bridge Lunch Volunteers
PTA Executive Committee Update
PTA Committee Chair Vacancies for 2012-2013
Kids Cooking Green Registration Now Open For Fall 2012 Session
End of Year Activities
Cary Summer Reading Programs
Bridge to Home to Shift Format in 2012-13
Calendar for 2012-13
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
 LATEST NEWS     
 
Principal's Corner

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a happy, safe, and restful summer.  This year has been filled with many successes.   The students have grown and excelled in many areas, have overcome obstacles, made new friends, and have matured.  It's hard to believe how fast the year has gone, but you should be proud of all that your child(ren) has accomplished.   As you head into the summer, rest assured that your child(ren) is well prepared to move on to the next grade. 

 

A special thank you to the many volunteers that have helped to make this year a success, we couldn't have done it without you!   I continue to tell people that Bridge is a special place because of the students, staff, and families-you all make it a wonderful place to teach, learn, and work!

 

As you enjoy your summer, please visit the Bridge Renovation blog  to see updates and progress.  While the majority of the school will be closed during the summer, the main office will be open.  We will be located in rooms 108 and 109 (Mrs. Colby and Mr. Pittman's 5th Grade Classrooms).  

 

Enjoy the summer!  See you on August 28th!  

 

Meg Colella

Principal 

Principals for the Day!
On Tuesday, June 12, Galen Roy and Will LaFond enjoyed their raffle prize from the Spring Fling, "Principal for the Day".  They spent the day with Principal Colella and Assistant Principal Maguire learning what it is like to be a principal. Some of the fun activities they were involved with included announcing at All School Meeting, playing the Chicken Dance over the loud speaker, and giving extra recess to their classes.  They both enjoyed visiting classrooms, signing visitors in, and answering to Principal LaFond and Principal Roy.  A final highlight was assigning homework to the teachers!
Special Staff Thanks
At Tuesday's All-School Assembly, the PTA and students acknowledged two special Staff members who are retiring this year: Roberta Pelkey and Carole Baumgart.  The PTA presented each with a thank you card, gift certificates, and a special birdhouse personally inscribed by Art Teacher Lynne Murray.  The green birdhouse will be hung outside their classroom to honor their 20+ years of friendship with and dedication to the students of Bridge School, and as a symbol of their care for and appreciation of the many beautiful birds inhabiting the Bridge School grounds.
Field Day Fun
FIeld Day Opening Ceremonies
Bridge School enjoyed one of it's annual traditions on Friday, June 15th: FIELD DAY!  This year, the theme was "The Olympics."  Each classroom represented a different country.  Flags were made, t-shirts were worn, and even togas adorned some students.  The festivities started with a parade of countries which lead into the Opening Ceremonies.  A special thank you Erin Maguire and Russ Bosbach who organized and facilitated the day.
Bridge PTA Highlights (2011-2012)
It has been an action-packed year for the PTA this year!  Heartfelt thanks to all the parents and teachers who shared their time and dedication to our beloved Bridge School community.  Here are a few highlights of our initiatives:

FUNDRAISING  

Raised over $45,000 through PTA Membership Dues & Donations, Square1Arts, 5th Grade Monstah Carnival, Scholastic Book Fair, Spring Fling auction and raffles, Sally Foster Gift Wrap, School Pictures, Stop & Shop/Target programs, Luminary Night, and Spirit Gear.

CURRICULUM-ENRICHMENT  
Offered programs for students in all grades including five Arts Created Together assemblies, seasonal Big Backyards, Eco-Bridge, Safe Routes to School, Family Math-, Word-, and Science Nights.

COMMUNITY-BUILDING EVENTS  
Ran community events for hundreds of attendees including Welcome Back Breakfast, Newcomer's Breakfast, Family Map Night: Asia, International Festival, and Spring Fling.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Reached out to support the greater community through the Holiday Gift Drive, leaf-raking, Bristol Lodge serving and fruit drive, METCO, UNICEF, and We Care programs.

AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Worked with third parties to offer Kids Cooking Green, Youth Exploring Science, Reflections, and Chess and Math clubs to Bridge students.

COMMUNICATION & SERVICES TO PTA MEMBERS
Provided Bridge families with School Directories, School Pictures, weekly Bridge to Home email newsletters, Special Announcements, ListServe, a comprehensive PTA Web Site and Calendar of Events, and morning Parent Connection Coffees.

CURRICULUM & CLASSROOM ENHANCEMENT
Coordinated the donation of over 70 in-kind gifts from parents for classroom needs through the Wishing Well program.  Provided Staff Appreciation Initiatives including All-Staff Luncheon, Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts, Packing Day Pizza, Retirements, Nurse Appreciation Day.  The money we raised not only funded all the above programs but also provided:
$5009 for Teacher's Mini-Grants
$3000 for Teacher's Purse Program (classroom needs)
$2500 for School Technology Purchases (ELMO & iPad accessories)

FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
The gardening and playground committees helped to enhance the Bridge School grounds. Perhaps most importantly, we worked hard to pass a town-wide $22.7 Million debt exclusion to successfully ensure the funding of the renovation of Bridge/Bowman Schools.

We are proud to be a part of this amazing community!

Rebecca Moore & Justine Wirtanen
Bridge PTA Co-Presidents
Gardeners Needed Over the Summer and Next Year
Last week each of the 1st grade classes planted a Three Sisters Garden - corn, beans and squash.  It was a beautiful day and they all learned a little about Native American gardening!

We could use help weeding the gardens over the summer.  I will take care of June but if you are able to weed in July or August please contact Dianna Queheillalt.

Also, if you would like to be on the garden committee for the 2012-2013 school year please contact Dianna Queheillalt or Charlie Hutchison.  Members of the garden committee help with planting and harvesting the Three Sisters Garden as well as maintenance of the herb and flower gardens over the summer and school year at Bridge.  Experienced and novice gardeners welcome!
 
Dianna Queheillalt & Charlie Hutchison
Thank You Eco-Bridge Lunch Volunteers
A special thank you to our committed Eco-Bridge parent volunteers who regularly dedicated their lunch hours throughout the year and helped make our everyday recycling program a big success!  The students, staff, and the Earth send a big gratitude to: Anne Bruno, Angela Chang, Archana Dubey, Yoko Graham-Masuda, Stephanie Marmier, Naomi Priver, Kirthika Ramakrishnan, and Jenny Lisle.  Also thank you to Dianna Queheillalt, Lalitha Narayanan, and Nandini Kshatriya for their dedicated countless hours towards Eco-Bridge initiatives.
PTA Executive Committee Update
At its final PTA meeting on June 6, members voted in the 2012-2013 Executive Committee:

Co-Presidents: Justine Wirtanen & Rebecca Reynolds Moore
Secretary: Stephanie Mitzenmacher (new)
Treasurer: Tricia Weisberg
Vice Presidents:  
Nimisha Asthagiri (new)
Christie King (new)
Lisa Dinsmore (new)
Laura Schroeder
Cathy Smith
Guorong Zhu
Susan Kingsbury (will be continuing as a Co-Vice President in the second year of this elected position)
 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.
 
Lexington 300th Anniversary 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.

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

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 or weekend event 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.
 REMINDERS --- links to previous items      
 
End of Year Activities

"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. 

Cary Summer Reading Programs
Cary Library is sponsoring 2 reading programs this summer, as well as supporting Bat Conservation International.  For more information, click here.
Bridge to Home to Shift Format in 2012-13

Bridge to Home is changing its format starting next fall.  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.  Click here for more details.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Aimee Burstein. 

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.

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