Bridges Breeze
Friday, September 16, 2022
A Message from Mrs. Rittmiller
Greetings Families,
We are looking forward to our continued work to live more fully into our purpose and the Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) mission and vision statements below.
District 77 Mission Statement
Mankato Area Public Schools is committed to working together equitably, with families and communities, so that each learner has the knowledge and skills to be successful and contributing citizens in a diverse global society.
District 77 Vision Statement
Every learner will be seen for who they are inclusive of: race, national origin, home language, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion. MAPS learners will experience a school environment that builds their voice and agency. Learners and families will be seen and heard. MAPS will assure that each learner has the skills to enter society with a joy for learning, a positive vision for the future and the ability to navigate the world with hope, dignity and their multiple talents.
Living our mission and vision provides the foundation learners need to become well-rounded, healthy individuals, equipped with a solid education and important life skills to help them reach their full potential. Domains of child development include physical development, cognitive development, social and emotional development.
Social Emotional Learning includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Efforts to care for the emotional well-being of students include having a support team within our school system that can extend support within our school, families' homes and into our community. Some of the supports offered are school wide classroom lessons focused on teaching strategies to manage peer relationships and emotional regulation. Support Staff also meet with students as individuals and groups to offer support around these skills. Our support team also works with families to access resources and outside support systems. Included in this communication is the Bridges Support team. Each member has included additional information around their role within our schools and have provided contact information if you need to reach out.
If you have questions please feel free to reach out to me or any of our support staff.
You Matter!
Jody Rittmiller, Principal
Annika Olivo, School Counselor
I will continue to be at Bridges on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday afternoons. As the school counselor, I meet with all students twice a month for social/emotional classroom lessons. In addition, I meet with students one-on-one and in small groups to provide additional support as needed. Students, teachers and parents are all able to refer students to me for additional support. Please feel free to reach out if you have questions or concerns: aolivo1@isd77.org or 507-207-5238.
Brianna Baker, Student Support Coach
As the student success coach your child might mention that they were with me for a part of their day. I am at the school to support the students to reach their full potential, this might mean me being in the classroom or doing some one-on-one with a student. I am looking forward to meeting the Bridges Community!
Please email jrittm1@isd77.org or call the office if you have any questions or concerns.
Tom Wolfe, School Psychologist
My name is Dr. Thomas Wolfe. During the past 23 years I have had the pleasure of serving ISD 77 students, families, and school staff within the capacity of a school psychologist. As an itinerant staff member, each year I am responsible for providing school psychology services at several locations, and during the current academic year I am pleased that one of my sites is Bridges Community School. I have worked at Bridges Community School a total of 12 academic years during my ISD 77 tenure, with my last rotation occurring during the 2020/21 academic year (so some of the Bridges Community School students and families may already know me). Examples of services I provide within ISD 77 include: (a) collaborating with teachers, school administration, parents, and support staff for the purpose of supporting student learning, social and emotional development, as well as behavioral functioning, (b) conducting special education assessments, and (c) collecting and examining data that may be useful when making decisions about how to best support students. I am looking forward to a fantastic year working with the Bridges Community School students, families, and staff members! If you need to contact me, I can be reached at 507-207-3319, or twolfe1@isd77.org.
Wednesday Early Release Plan
Our first Wednesday Early Release will be Sept. 21st. Details around this process are listed below. The after school (12:50-2:50) child care sheet was sent home in back to school folders. You only have to fill it out one time so if you change the plan, please communicate this with your child's teacher and the office. The following are the dates for early release this school year: Sept. 21, Oct.12, Nov. 9, Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 8, April 12, and May 10.
- Students will be dismissed at 12:50 and follow their typical after school dismissal routines specified on the plan you provided. Be sure to share any changes to pick up routines with your child's teacher in advance. Buses will ONLY run at 12:50 only on Early Release days.
- Students will all still be served school lunch. To maximize serving lunch at a reasonable time, students will be served lunch a little earlier than normal. Of course, as always, if students prefer a home lunch they certainly can do so.
- At 12:50, students will need to be picked up by their caregivers. There will not be a bussing option at 2:50.
- Should you have any questions or unsure of how you filled out your students forms, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Game Donations
Backpack Food Program
The BackPack and Power Pack Food Programs are free programs providing students in grades K-8 with weekend food packs containing breakfast, lunch and a snack for each day off of school. As of right now, food packs will be delivered weekly directly to a students backpack while they are at lunch or on break. Sign up today to give your child an additional boost of nutrition.
Wellness and Birthday Celebrations
Wellness:
ISD 77 wellness policy encourages parents and teachers to consider celebrations as an opportunity to teach healthy habits by celebrating without food as a reward.
Birthdays:
Birthdays are acknowledged by individual classroom teachers. Please visit with your child’s teacher about appropriate acknowledgement or choice to refrain. Remember, Bridges and Mankato Area Public Schools are "Allergy Aware."
Parents must refrain from sending birthday invitations to school unless the entire class is invited. Addresses are only available through the BAC directory. Please do not ask the office or the teacher for class lists and addresses.
*All events subject to additions and change
Mankato's Suicide Prevention Walk
We Are Still in Need, especially on Thursdays!
Dates to Remember:
September:
21 - 2 Hour Early Out (Students will be released at 12:50 pm)
22 - Coupon Book Sales Begin
26 - Buffalo Wild Wings Bridges Fundraiser 11am-11pm
29 - Fall Bus Evacuations
October:
7 - Grade 4 History Fest "Being There" Field Trip - Wear your shirt!
10 - No School - Indigenous Peoples Day
12 - Coupon Book Sales End
12 - 2 Hour Early Out (Students will be released at 12:50 pm)
13 - Bridges Walk-a-Thon
20 - No School MEA
21 - No School MEA
Past Bridges Breeze Bulletins
Principal & Administrative Assistant
Amanda Robinson, Administrative Assistant
Email: jrittm1@isd77.org
Website: https://bcs.isd77.org/
Location: 320 Garfield Avenue, North Mankato, MN, USA
Phone: (507)387-2800