Bridges Area Learning Center
Weekly Reflections, March 27 2017
Dear Team,
HAPPY SPRING!! The warmth, the sun, the longer days are just some of the things I love about this time of the year. Spring brings a sense of renewal in a lot of ways - especially in Minnesota! In education, Spring means the end of the school year is near. During this time of our last few months time seems to accelerate. I appreciate the sentiment of my colleague, David Lawson, as I was discussing this concept recently. I referenced this idea as time's 'downward spiral'. Mr. Lawson thought for a moment and said, 'isn't there a better description?!' Indeed there is! Its the feeling of being on a roller coaster and just having it move over the top - The Great Acceleration! Time seems to evaporate during this part of the school year. After Spring break it seems we blink and we are at commencement! Between now and then A LOT of major events and activities happen both in our school, the district and in our students lives. With the end near it means major transitions for the majority of our school. I am fortunate to be among a team that, after 8 years at Bridges, know how to support our students into the next phase of their lives. It is INCREDIBLY edifying to see our students enter into this new phase of their lives - especially after seeing them when they first arrived at Bridges.
We support our students positive progress towards earning their PLHS diploma in order for gainful employment or post-secondary options! After all, that is why we are here.
Warm Regards,
Dave
#WeArePLSAS
#bridges1617
We Want Your Feedback
We Want Your Feedback
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (PLSAS) can expect more than 2,100 additional students over the next ten years spread across all grade levels (2017/18 - 2026/27).
As a result, a long-term facilities planning process is underway, led by a community Task Force that is providing input to address our needs. The first round of draft options related to facilities planning in PLSAS is now being presented for public feedback.
Your input will be used to help revise the draft options. The revised options will be shared with the community again March 28 for another round of feedback. Take the survey.
School Board Listening Session
On this night, the public will have a chance to share input on the initial draft option with the entire School Board.
Thursday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.
District Services Center
4540 Tower Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Public Input Session
On this night, the public will have a chance to share input with the Facilities Task Force on the revised options (first input session was March 2).
Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 p.m.
District Services Center
4540 Tower Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Learn More
To learn more about the draft options, facilities planning process and to view all of the data the Facilities Task Force has studied to date, visit:
This Week At A Glance
- BSAT team meeting @ 730am - Mr. Brown's office
Tuesday
- Mr. Brown meeting with Maggie Ekrem @ 8am - DSC
- Mr. Brown @ CIA-T & admin meeting - DSC
Wednesday
- Student SPED eval meeting @ 3pm
Thursday
- BILT meeting
Friday
- Mr. Brown out - Military Duty
Teacher's Corner: Candi Jenkins, SPED
As the end of quarter 3 is quickly approaching, I am constantly aware of the insurmountable question, “How do I motivate high school students on a daily basis?” This is not an easy task! Students have a variety of reasons why they can’t get motivated to complete work as well or to come to school. I was thinking that it might be helpful to take a look at some of the reasons that students are unmotivated. In other words, what causes a lack of motivation in students?
The first reason I find very interesting is that some students have low self-esteems. “Kids who have a poor self-image avoid activities that they deem beyond their capabilities. Even if they can actually complete a given task, these students engage in self-defeating behavior to protect the little self-worth they do possess. For them, it is better to withhold effort or to procrastinate rather than risk trying, failing, and feeling even worse about themselves.” 1 These students are in the survival mode and cannot see beyond that.
The second reason for becoming unmotivated is that some students don’t know how to cope with the stresses and pressure of everyday life. Their defense mechanisms of avoidance and procrastination help them to escape from their feelings of inadequacy and failure. They have failed in the past over and over again and they don’t know how to “bounce back” from that.
Environments outside of school are so crucial to a teen’s sense of well-being.
Also, avoiding power struggles with teens. Continue choosing your battles wisely. Make sure the student’s rules are clear and they know what is expected of them.
And finally, one can build on and encourage the teen’s strengths. The success the student feels in his or her nonacademic strengths can eventually trickle over into good working habits and successful academics. “In conclusion, unmotivated students do want to succeed, but they are being held back by some sort of obstacle. With patience, understanding, and hard work, you can help your child find a path to academic achievement.” 2
1: http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/motivating-the-unmotivated-student/
2: http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/motivating-the-unmotivated-student/
Candi Jenkins
Special Education Teacher: SLD / EBD
Recently At Bridges
THANK YOU PL City Manager Frank Boyles wrapping up his 2nd Junior Achievement class for the 5th consecutive year!!
Ms. Jenkins's Transitions class working on skateboard park design, marketing and advertising!
Mr. Lawson's econ class
Students enjoying a stroll through Ms. Nelson's Art Gallery
Newly Open Tres Cafe - Thanks Mr. Martin & FABLAB for the design!
From the Student Support Team: Kevin Wagner: Social Worker
“Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow.”
― Catherynne M. Valente,
Mindfulness….many of us have seen or heard the word used. But, do we know what it means? There is a reason we’ve started hearing more about mindfulness in the last decade or so. Our founding fathers used the phrase ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ to describe what they felt most humans should strive for.
Happiness and mindfulness are two things that have been found to go hand-in-hand. How many times have you been driving somewhere while thinking back to an argument, a conflict, or a mistake you feel you made? Have you ever arrived somewhere without any memory of the drive itself? Chances are you were either ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. This mental time travel is something that robs many people of the ability to enjoy life and feel true happiness. How many times have you been engaged in a conversation with someone and then afterward had no memory of what the person told you? Again, chances are you were engaged in mental time travel….worrying or ruminating. Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of living in and enjoying the present moment.
Being aware of your surroundings. Being mentally present during conversations with people. Enjoying a movie, or an ice cream cone without having your mind move backwards or forwards in time to unpleasant thoughts. Understandably, mindfulness and good mental health have a lot to do with each other. We’ve become so used to our thoughts and emotions being tied to one another that it is almost automatic. When we think of something, the emotion that goes along with that thought becomes a part of us…of our consciousness. It is important to learn how to untangle our thoughts from our emotions. Allowing our thoughts to dictate how we feel is the opposite of being mindful. Being a neutral observer of our thoughts and letting them flow past our consciousness without taking on the emotions that accompany our thoughts is being mindful. When we ‘try’ not to think of something, we of course think of that thing. Trying to fight thoughts only gives them energy. Trying not to think of something is very difficult for most people, if not impossible. However, if we play the role of an impartial observer to our thoughts, we can let them flow through our brain more easily.
I tell students to envision a stream or a river when thinking of your thoughts. Let the thoughts of various things flow over your head and down the stream. Don’t fight the thoughts, don’t take on that emotional energy. That is what being mindful is all about!