Trailblazer Tribune
BRIDGE VALLEY'S NEWSLETTER
April 28, 2017
Important Dates & Reminders
It is that time of year, when the calendar fills up with many BV events and traditions. Please mark your calendars for a busy month of May.
- April 28th - Father/Daughter Masquerade Ball
- May 1st to 2nd- PSSA Testing-Science-Grade 4
- May 1st to 19th - 6th Grade Assessment
- May 11th - HSA Executive Board Meeting
- May 11th - 4th Grade (Hauck) Biography Wax Museum
- May 12th - Mother/Son "Golf Outing" Party
- May 12th - Spirit Day -Crazy Hair or Crazy Clothes Day
- May 19th - 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade Field Trips
- May 19th - School Store
- May 15th -19th - Scholastic Book Fair
- May 23rd - String & Recorder Concert
- May 23rd - Band, Strings & Chorus Concert
- May 23rd - 4th Grade (Herman) Biography Wax Museum
- May 24th - 4th Grade (Rotella) Biography Wax Museum
- May 24th - 6th Grade Middle School Orientation at Holicong & Lenape
- May 25th - PEN Invention Convention
- May 29th - Memorial Day-No School
- May 30th - 2nd Grade (Slinka & Smith) Field Trip
- May 31st - 2nd Grade (Kardohely & Lowry) Field Trip
- May 31st - 4th Grade (Schmoyer) Biography Wax Museum
- May 31st - 1st Grade Rumpus
- June 1st - 1st Grade Rumpus
Autism Awareness Month at Bridge Valley
April was Autism Awareness Month. At Bridge Valley this topic is not only near and dear to our hearts, it’s part of the fabric of who we are as a school and community. As the regional site for six Central Bucks autistic support classrooms, all of the children at Bridge Valley are offered an experience of diversity, compassion, and awareness that is not replicated in other elementary schools. At Bridge Valley, we have moved beyond tolerance and acceptance. We are a school where students are taught to embrace their peers with differences. They learn to empathize, understand, protect, and care for other people every day.
Over the past weeks, special activities have focused on Autism Awareness Month. Earlier this month we held an Autism Awareness Spirit Day in which all staff and students wore blue. In addition, each day facts about Autism were read over the morning announcements in an effort to educate students and dispel misunderstandings about autism.
During this month, the staff participated in fundraisers to support Autism Awareness. We held a Dessert Silent Auction and participated in a "Wear Jeans Day". The proceeds benefited Autism Awareness through the Autism Cares Foundation, including a scholarship for a Central Bucks High School Senior who has shown a commitment to inclusion. These are just a sampling of the various activities that were completed in the month of April at Bridge Valley.
Student Placement for 2017-2018
Please remember that parents are invited to express their suggestions regarding student placement for the upcoming school year via our placement form. Forms are due no later than May 5, 2017.
Thank you!
Kevin Cochran and Kate Fantaskey
Bridge Valley PSSA Testing Dates
April Happenings
Sixth Grade Promotion
Kindergarten Registration
If you are planning to register your child for the 2017-18 school year, for kindergarten or grades 1-6, please follow the link for registration information found on the CBSD website.
For kindergarten, a child must turn five years old by August 31, 2017. Early registration allows us to be more accurate in determining the number of class sections as we plan for the 2017-18 school year.
Important Immunization Information ~ New Requirements
Please be advised that the Pennsylvania Department of Health has revised the immunization requirements for students effective the 2017-2018 school year. As of August 2017, a student must have all immunizations completed within the first 5 days of school. If the student is in the middle of a series and it is too soon for the next dose, the parents must provide the school nurse with a plan for immunizations (signed by a health care provider) within the first 5 days. If the student has incomplete immunizations and no medical plan, the student will be excluded from school. You may check your child’s school immunization record by logging onto the parent portal through the district website at www.cbsd.org or by consulting with your child’s physician.
CB District Art Show
Young Rembrandts Drawing for Kids Class
This Month's Anxiety Tip
How to Address Excessive Reassurance Seeking
Children look to their parents for information about the world. It is normal and helpful for parents to provide children with information about challenging situations. However, for some children, asking for reassurance about the same situation over and over again becomes an unhelpful way of coping.
Some examples of reassurance seeking:
“Are you sure you locked all the doors?”
“Did you wash your hands before you cooked dinner? Are you really sure?”
Calling mom or dad over and over again on the phone from school to make sure they are okay.
What is the problem with giving reassurance?
Most parents already know that giving reassurance over and over again can be exhausting! No matter how much reassurance you give your child, he or she will always want more! It becomes addictive for kids!
Giving reassurance is a Band-Aid solution: it only relieves your child anxiety in the moment. More importantly, giving reassurance actually keeps your child’s anxiety alive, because it maintains the problem in the long-term.
Giving your child reassurance also sends the message that there’s actual danger that he or she needs to be protected from, when it is in fact the anxiety that is driving the reassurance seeking.
What is the solution?
Step 1: Make a Clear Plan
What specific behaviors are you trying to change?
Is everyone in the family on board?
Make sure your child or teen understands and agrees with the plan
Step 2: Following Through on the Plan
Step 3: Give lots of praise!
FOCUS ON POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, NOT ANXIOUS BEHAVIORBecause your child will probably be quite anxious at first when not getting reassurance, your first instinct might be to soothe him or her in other ways (giving lots of affection and attention, treats or rewards).
By doing this, you are actually rewarding the anxious behavior.
If you stick to the plan, resist giving reassurance, and encourage your child to handle anxiety on his or her own, you are ignoring the anxious behaviors
Encouraging your child to reassure him or herself, and to problem solve independently will help your child to become independent and confident.
After your child has calmed down, or if he or she is using a coping tool to deal with anxiety, then you can praise this positive behavior!
Adapted from www.AnxietyBC.com
Mother Son Golf Outing
Fundraising (Passive)
Please register your Giant Rewards Card for free money for our school.
Amazon Smile
Support our school when you shop, #StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com/ch/11-3722272 and Amazon donates to Bridge Valley Elementary Home & School Association.
Box Top$ for Education
Labels for Education
Bridge Valley Elementary School
Kevin Cochran, Principal
Kate Fantaskey, Assistant Principal
Respect~Responsibility~Citizenship~Collaboration~
Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/9
Phone: 267-893-3700
Twitter: @CBBridgeValley