2 Parsons Street

Northampton, Massachusetts 01060

413-587-1460 (phone) 413-587-1484 (fax)

Beth N. Choquette, Principal bchoquette@northamtpon-k12.us

Elizabeth Peterson, Administrative Assistant epeterson@northampton-k12.us

Nicole Sawula, Senior Clerk nsawula@northampton-k12.us

Good afternoon. I apologize for not getting this out on Friday. With the half day and a week of many meetings, time slipped away, so I thought I'd send out a quick one today.

I am excited to announce that on June 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Massachusetts State House, Bridge Street School will be given the Honorable Mention for Exemplary Program Award for our walking school bus program. Thank you so much to our parents and community members for making this program happen. I am so proud of the work we have done. Let's continue to get our students walking!

On the last day of school we will be having a "move-up" day during our morning meeting block. Students will have the opportunity to visit their classrooms and their teacher(s) for next year. For students in kindergarten who will be assigned to the "new" first grade classroom, they will have a chance to visit the room that will be their classroom and give ideas on how the room should be set up but will not know who their teacher will be because they won't be hired until after school lets out.

There has been some confusion around the preschool/kindergarten playground. Even though the preschool releases at 2:50 a.m., school for the K-5 students is still in session. Therefore, once you sign your child out from preschool, you should leave the playground area until after the K-5 students dismiss at 3:00 p.m. After that time you may stay and play on the preschool/kindergarten playground. This is for safety reasons and to relieve any congestion during the 3:00 p.m. dismissal. Thank you for your cooperation.

We have a few faculty and staff members leaving us at the end of the school year. Miss Millie, Mrs. Carr-Mal, and Mrs. Strong will all be leaving us and moving on to new adventures. Mrs. Strong will be relocating to the state of Georgia! I'd like to thank all three of them for their dedication to our students and families over the years. They have given so much to the Bridge Street community and we are grateful for their service. Good luck to all three of them, they will be deeply missed.

I am looking for parent volunteers to sit on the hiring committees. We will be hiring a first and second grade teacher as well as ESPs. First come first serve. Parents should volunteer for hiring committees that are NOT for the grade their child is entering. Please email me at bchoquette@northampton-k12.us if you are interested. Thank you.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

During our last school council meeting, we will be discussing how to create/implement a Success Committee as well as review the draft School Improvement Plan. Our meetings are open to the public so feel free to join us on June 13, 2018 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the library.

April 9-June 15: New Base Session

June 5: PTO Meeting 3:15 Library

June 7: BSS Talent Show 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

June 8: Field Day

June 13: End of Year Picnic 5:30 p.m.

June 15: 5th Grade Breakfast 8:00 a.m.; 5th Grade Graduation 9:00 a.m.; Kindergarten Graduation 2:00 p.m.

June 20: Last Day of School-Half Day 12:20 p.m. Dismissal