• As a culminating activity, and a way for students to get ready for the transition to their new grade, we will have "Move-Up Day" on Friday, June 21st.  The students "Move Up" to the next grade by visiting a classroom to hear about what they can expect for the following year.  The 5th graders "Move Down" to kindergarten and enjoy spending time "playing" and reminiscing about their experiences at Bridge.  
• Another fun activity the students look forward to is "Field Day".  This year, the theme is "sea animals."  Each classroom chooses a sea animal as their mascot.  Classrooms participate and get excited in many ways.  All classrooms create flags to march with in the "Opening Ceremonies." Some classrooms make t-shirts, wear hats, and more.  Field Day this year is scheduled for June 13th with the 14th as a rain date.  More information will come but we always invite parents to join in this event and watch as their child(ren) participate in the day's activities.  
• The fifth graders spend up to 6 years waiting for their turn to play the staff in a game of kickball!  This year, the Bridge School Kickball Game will be held on June 21st at 1:30pm with a rain date of Monday the 24th at 9:00am.  The younger grades come out to cheer on the staff and 5th graders.  Feel free to come join us and watch!
• The Moving On Ceremony (aka graduation) from fifth grade will be held on June 19th.  We are hoping for good weather so that it can be held at Bridge. The rain location is the Fiske School Gym and will be held at the same time.  I will make the call the night before and will send a Global Connect message, and will post it on our website, if the ceremony has been moved to Fiske. If the weather permits, Graduation will begin promptly at 10:00am (parents/families/friends can begin to arrive at 9:15am) on the center lawn in front of the school.   Following the ceremony, the students will participate in the annual "Clap Out" where the children in grades K-4 line the halls and clap as the 5th graders parade around.  Next, the students (and families) are invited to view the 5th grade slideshow that will be held in the gym portion of the gym (the students traditionally sit on the floor and the parents stand in the back).  Finally, the students and families are invited to a small reception (hosted by the fourth grade parents).  Many have asked if students can be dismissed at this point.  As always, it the decision of the parents.  If your child is going to be dismissed early, you will need to sign him/her out in the main office.  The students who do stay at school for the remainder of the day will have a pizza lunch followed by a movie.

RENOVATIONS
As you may have noticed, Bridge has continued to make progress with the renovation project.  The main hallway looks bright and welcoming with the new glass offices and small instructional spaces.  The students have enjoyed "guessing" what these spaces may be used for.  I even saw an art class sketching their predictions while sitting outside these new areas!  In the Phase 2 area (the 3rd -5th grade wing) new windows are being installed in the classrooms (after school hours).  The students and staff are amazed at the transformation that takes place overnight and are thrilled with the light and look of the new windows.  Excavation of the boiler has begun and wiring and pipe work is taking place to prepare for the summer work.         

The staff are preparing for the move and are anticipating the delivery of thousands of crates to help with this process.  In June, large storage trailers will be moved onsite (similar to last year) for storage for the summer.  These will be placed in the back parking lot.  Staff will be parking on the front lawn area as needed due to the lack of spaces in the back parking lot.    Please visit the Bridge/Bowman blog to see updated pictures of the progress. 

Throughout the summer, I will be posting pictures and will post renovation updates on the website and on the blog.  In addition, if need be, I will send Global Connects to parents and staff in regards to the progress.  We are hopeful that this summer will go smoothly and the staff and students will be able to occupy the entire school for the first day of the 2013/2014 school year.  However, we have been mindful of last summer and have already been preparing for various contingency plans, if needed.  During the summer, I will keep you abreast of the work and will be sure to communicate with you through the Bridge website, via snail mail, and through Global Connects.        

The Main Office will be moved, once again, for a portion of the summer.  The building will not be open to visitors except for the Main Office.  The office will be located in Kristen Baranofsky's Kindergarten Classroom (located at the playground side of the building).  There will be signage alerting people to this change and directing them to the proper door.  Both Ms. Daley and I will be located in this area.  

THANK YOU 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing PTA Presidents Rebecca Moore and Justine Wirtanen for their three years of service to Bridge School.  Over the past three years, Rebecca and Justine not only led the Bridge PTA but also were very instrumental in helping to pass the Bridge Renovation Project.  They spent countless hours at Town Meeting and School Committee Meetings advocating for the needs of Bridge.  The time and energy these amazing women have devoted to Bridge is priceless.  It has been a pleasure and honor to work with them.

Meg Colella
Principal 

2012-2013 PTA Executive Committee Members

Bridge School Office Staff

CO-PRESIDENTS       

PRINCIPAL

Justine Wirtanen

Margaret Colella

Rebecca Reynolds Moore

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

TREASURER

Erin Maguire

Tricia Weisberg

SECRETARY

Stephanie Mitzenmacher

CO-VICE PRESIDENTS

Nimisha Asthagiri

Lisa Dinsmore

Christie King    

Susan Kingsbury

Laura Schroeder

Cathy Smith 

Guorong Zhu  

Diane Celi