Bridges Area Learning Center
Quarter 1 Community Newsletter
Greetings Bridges Community,
The school year is upon is and we are into Fall! This will be my eighth year opening our school to students in the Prior Lake-Savage area and the south metro to redefine their educational journey. I often am asked how is Bridges different to a 'traditional' educational setting. Below are some highlights that I often reference:
- Schedule: students schedules are based on ability, need and likelihood of success - not age based classes. Each period finds a mix of students based on many factors.
- Size: we have about 100 students in our school with class sizes of about 15-17 on average. This small size often finds us receiving comments from our students that Bridges becomes a family.
- Teachers: Our teachers are ABSOLUTELY great!! They have been here from an average of 3 - 8 years and are 100% committed to getting to know their students, establishing positive relationships with them and meeting them where they are to partner with them to move forward in their learning.
- Support staff: Academics is, obviously, a vital component of a student's educational journey. At Bridges we highly value the social and emotional components of our students educational journey. To that end, we have several support staff that meets with students collectively and individually. These staff members include a social worker, licensed drug and alcohol counselor, guidance counselor, special education teacher, therapist and school psychologist.
- Hybrid classes: We offer dozens of online classes that allow students to move at their own pace. Students are unique individuals which often benefit from having the flexibility and autonomy of controlling the pace of instruction. Additionally, we have partnered with PLHS to offer independent study classes Monday - Thursday (Monday & Wednesdays@ Bridges; Tuesdays & Thursdays @ PLHS) after school for students who need additional credits.
- JUMP DAYS: About twice a month we pause regular classes and provide support to our students in two broad categories: interventions and enrichments.
These some of the reasons Bridges had now partnered with hundreds of students and families to progress toward their PLHS diploma. I welcome families and students in all the time to see the school to actually witness what we are doing and feel the positive energy in our school. Feel free to call me anytime to come in and see our school first hand. It is a great place that I love to be. The school year has started out great! Happy Fall!
Warm Regards,
David Brown
Bridges ALC Coordinator
Bridges Mission - To support students' successful progress toward acquiring their high school diploma leading to gainful employment or post-secondary education.
School Year Begins With Largest Student Enrollment Growth In PLSAS History
As the 2016/17 school year gets underway, PLSAS has realized a 6% student enrollment growth increase throughout the district, which is putting pressure on class sizes K-12.
Since completing a demographic study in 2015, the district has been projecting an additional 250 students per year through the year 2020/21. By the end of 2015/16, K-12 enrollment growth surpassed projections, ending the school year with an additional 321 students. As of this month, the district has already outpaced projections for the school year by nearly double with an additional 479 students spread across all grade levels.
What Does This Growth Mean for PLSAS?
New housing developments in Prior Lake and Savage, combined with families moving into existing homes within our boundaries can be attributed to our largest increases in student enrollment growth. With that growth comes families with children. More students means more needs throughout our district, particularly for learning spaces. Here are a few examples of how increases in enrollment impact learning and core spaces:
- Currently, PLHS is short of space by 8 classrooms. Next year, the district anticipates PLHS will be short 16 classrooms due to continued increases in resident student enrollment.
- PLHS lunch periods serve as many as 900 students at a time, making the servery area congested. The high school starts lunch as early as 10:13 a.m. to ensure it can serve up to 2,589 students throughout the day.
- Our middle schools are near capacity and will soon be in need of additional space for classrooms and core spaces such as cafeterias.
- All of our elementary schools are either over capacity for learning spaces or near capacity.
- Some elementary schools have re-purposed learning spaces such as computer labs, art and music rooms into classrooms. This means that specialists put their classrooms on carts to deliver instruction.
- Our Spanish Immersion program at Edgewood School, La ola del lago, currently enrolls students in grades K-2. By 2017/18, La ola del lago will have outgrown its space and will need to find additional classrooms to house their growing student population.
Elementary Enrollment
- At 616 students, 2016/17 kindergartners make up the largest kindergarten class in our district's history.
- The largest elementary class is currently 4th grade with a total of 645 students.
Middle School Enrollment
- In middle school, the largest class is 8th grade at 701 students.
- Eighth grade also represents the largest class in the district, K-12.
- As 8th graders transition to high school next school year, their numbers will grow in enrollment as additional resident students join this class as freshmen.
- Hidden Oaks currently enrolls more than 1,000 6th-8th grade students, the largest in its history.
High School Enrollment
- At Prior Lake High School, 10th grade represents the largest class, but not by much.
- As you can see in the chart below, grades 9-11 are all similar in size with the current senior class just below 600 students.
- Currently, PLHS is the 6th largest high school in the state of Minnesota.
How Is PLSAS Addressing Space Needs?
Short-Term Solutions
Over the next several weeks we will be studying a range of possible options to address space needs in the short-term including: closing more schools to open enrollment, reviewing in-district student transfer and open-enrollment assignments, class size increases and elementary attendance boundary changes. Open enrollment is currently closed at PLHS, Glendale Elementary and Redtail Ridge Elementary.
As part of its study, the district will further examine its current enrollment and facility usage, commission a new demographic study to learn more about enrollment trends and work with the cities of Prior Lake and Savage to get an update on housing market trends.
Long-Term Solutions
Due to the failed referendum vote last May, we will be reviewing our facilities plan and collecting input from the community before developing a new plan. The School Board wants to hear
from district residents about what they value in our schools and input on enrollment growth before bringing another facilities plan to voters.
The district will continue to maintain a high quality, high performing and innovative school district as we seek solutions for our space constraints.
Bridges September Student of the Month - Jacob
From his teachers - Jacob has been a positive leader, doing excellent and VERY strong effort!
Quarter 1 Conferences
Thursday, Oct 13, 2016, 05:00 PM
Bridges Area Learning Center
Teacher Corner: Mr. Lawson, Social Studies
A smart and not very well-known Wisonsonite named Arnold Glasgow is credited with saying, “The fewer the facts, the stronger the opinion.” This seems to sum up the zeitgeist of this fractious election season. Through the beginning weeks of this new school year, I have found myself straining to maintain norms of objectivity while working to guide students to becoming critical thinkers who listen to and respect others. Although they often feign indifference, I have found that our students do indeed hold opinions about the political and social issues that divide our nation and dominate our social media. In 2016, however, the divisions seem so deep and the rhetoric so overheated, that it seems that civil discourse is under siege.
The glow of educational opportunity never shines brighter than when a student ventures an opinion about a topical issue, political leader, or perceived injustice. This involves taking a stand—and taking a risk, and I am thrilled when students demonstrate awareness of the larger world and make connections to our content. The learning opportunity occurs when a student is challenged to defend their position—usually by a classmate, or by me, gently, in an effort to keep the discussion going. In history and government classes, I stress the importance of supporting assertions with evidence. “Cite your source, or it didn’t happen” has become my mantra.
We speak frequently of “unpacking” charged statements cited in the media, that is, exploring the intended meanings of oft-used statements and doing a bit of research to either verify underlying facts or shoot holes in specious arguments. Opinions will always vary, but key to my students’ understanding the world around us is knowing how to detect bias and account for wide-ranging perspectives. In developing these skills, we hope to keep civil discourse alive—and promote a healthy range of opinions in our classroom.
Student Reflection - Shea
My name is Shea, and I am one of the many students who attends Bridges ALC.
I was attending another high school before coming to Bridges, I struggled in a mainstream environment because of the lack of help and attention. I was an average student who was having a hard time competing in a larger school.
Bridges allowed me to not only be a student who exceeds but a young adult as well. I enjoy attending Bridges because help is provided wherever it is needed. The teachers make it easy to keep up with work and are always there to answer your questions. They provide credit help and make sure that you are caught up and ready to graduate. Everyone who attends is open minded and accepting of everyone around them. Bridges helps the scary jump into adulthood more of a confident leap into my future.
Quarter 1 Life @ Bridges ALC !
First Day - Rainy but Energetic Morning!
Adam getting in from the rain
Brando helping his fellow students
Getting to class
Mr. Martin's Projects Class - building planters for experiments in biology
Now Ms. Serefeas's Biology class using the planter for experiments!
Some great art in Drawing and Painting!
Ms. Olson's Com III class presentations on 'What Inspires Me'
Ms. Nelson's Phy Ed Class @ Memorial Park
Between Class . . . . .
Graduation Highlights from Last Year!
Alumni Visits!
Marine Corporal Conner!
Louk stopping in
Logan Cheking in
Mark receiving his PLHS diploma
End of the Day
From the student support staff: Ms. Jenny Witt, Bridges Guidance Counselor
There is an old saying that goes, “Out with the old and in with the new!” That is my frame of mind when I think about my transition to Bridges!
Having worked in Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools for 15 years, I am comfortable and knowledgeable about many aspects of our growing district. I served as a middle school Social Worker/School Counselor my first two years in the district and then the next nine years at PLHS as a School Counselor. As you might imagine, this opportunity gave me the privilege of working with many, many students and families, several of which I had multiple students! Then, in the fall of 2013, I was given a professional development opportunity to work with the amazing teachers and staff as a Peer Coach. I was grateful for this change, as it provided me with the opportunity to gain a new perspective on education and allowed me to contribute to the professional development and growth of those I worked with. As wonderful as this opportunity was, it did take me away from what I had known and loved for years—working with kids!
As I transitioned back to my former world of counseling, I was offered the opportunity to extend my experience to the students and staff here at Bridges. And for that, I am thankful. I was a PLHS School Counselor when Bridges was just a concept “on paper.” And as I reflect on the growth, improvement and opportunities that Bridges has provided our students these many years, I am honored to now be a part of its dedicated and committed staff. To see what this program has become instills in me a great sense of pride for our district.
My role here at Bridges is multi-faceted. My priority, first and foremost, is to partner with students and families to develop a path to success. At the end of the day, that is really the root of what we ALL want for our kids. I am able to look at and track credit progress and more importantly, assist students and families in making a plan BEYOND our walls. And yes. That is still as scary for some today as it was for us years ago! Our society is ever-changing, and it is our responsibility to meet the needs of ALL students and push them to be the best they can be!
I welcome you to reach out to me if you have questions or concerns as to how I can support your student here at Bridges. I can be reached via e-mail at jwitt@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us or voicemail at (952) 226-0855.
Here’s to a happy, productive and successful 2016-17 School Year!
Bridges Staff Contact Info
David Brown - ALC Coordinator
Email: dbrown@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226.0846
Twitter: @davidwbrown39
Teaching Staff
Melissa Olson - Teacher (Language Arts)
Email: meolson@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0841
Twitter: @PLSAS_Olson
Andrew Martin - Teacher (Math, FABLAB, Projects) & Independent Study Coordinator
Independent Study is held Monday's and Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 6:00pm
Email: amartin@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0844
Twitter: @mrmatinium
David Lawson - Teacher (Social Studies)
Email: dlawson@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0848
Twitter: @EdinaEast78
Chris Nelson - Teacher (Art, Phy Ed)
Email: cnelson@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0842
Twitter: @Ms_Cnelson
Candi Jenkins - Teacher (SPED)
Email: cjenkins@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0843
Twitter: @sped_jenkins
Alexius Serefeas - Teacher (Language Arts, Science)
Email: aserefeas@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Twitter: @PLSAS_Serefeas
Student Support Staff
Denise Schmidt - Bridges Secretary
Email: dschmidt@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0840
Ann Collins - (Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor)
Email: acollins@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0847
Twitter: @AnnCollins1516
Kevin Wagner - Social Worker
Email: kwagner@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0849
Jenny Witt - Guidance Counselor
Email: jwitt@priorlake-savagek12.mn.us
Phone: 952-226-0855
Twitter: @imjentwitt
Erik Elsberry - Therapist
Bridges ALC Independent Study
Do you know of a student that is behind on credits? Independent Study is a great way for students to make up those lost credits.
Here at Bridges we offer a flexible online based program to get students the credits they need. After a student determines their credit needs, they simply fills out a registration form, brings it in, and they are ready to go within minutes. Each student is enrolled in a class through a browser based program called PLATO.
Each class a student signs up for requires a total of 10 hours of seat time here at Bridges, and this can be done after school on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Once the attendance piece is completed the student will finish the course(s) on their own time. I’ve had many students get caught up, back on track, or even finish up for their diploma through Independent Study. It’s a great program and it provides a great service to our students.
JUMP DAY the Only Difference in Bridges Calendar to PLHS
If a student is progressing well and there are no issues with attendance they may earn a Golden Pass allowing their attendance on these days to be optional.
JUMP DAYS usually happen every other Friday (twice a month). Sometimes, however, they do not land on a Friday.
Q1 JUMP DAYS
- Sept 30
- Oct 7
- Oct 28
- Nov 9
- Nov 10 (Thursday & Early Release & Last Day of school)
Mr. Lawson spending some time during his enrichment block with his students!
Quarter 1 Significant dates
Sept 30 - JUMP DAY
Oct 7 - JUMP DAY
Oct 13 - Conferences from 5-8pm
Oct 19 - 21 Fall Break - No Classes
Oct 24 - District inservice day - No Classes
Oct 28 - JUMP DAY
Nov 9 - JUMP DAY
Nov 10 - JUMP DAY/Early Release - Last Day of Q1
Nov 11 - Staff Work Day - No Classes
Nov 14 - Q2 Start