Bridge Bulletin
December 2, 2022
Principal Chat
Thank you for another fabulous week with your kids!
You read that date correctly - it is December. In just one more month we begin middle of the year testing. It's crazy that time slips away so quickly.
This week we had our first real power outage and your kids were troopers! Seriously! I walked the halls and checked in on kids and they, along with teachers and staff, were carrying on business as usual. We had a few parents check out their students but those students who remained were flexible, rolled with it, and about 90 minutes later power was restored and it was as if it never even happened at all.
Flexibility is one of the character traits we teach our students as part of Visible Learning. Being flexible is a key trait of a good learner and I was so proud to see so many of our kids being flexible and adapting to change with a good attitude.
STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
This week's staff highlight features the 3rd grade teachers. Keep reading below to see more about our fabulous 3rd grade teaching team.
Mark you calendars for the following days of NO SCHOOL
- December 19 - January 1 (Christmas Break)
- January 16 (Martin Luther holiday)
- February 20 (President's Day)
- April 3 - 7 (Spring Break)
- May 26 (Teacher work day)
- May 29 (Memorial day)
Upcoming Events
- December 5 - email sent for 2023-2024 current student registration
- Schoolwide Vision Screening - Monday, December 12
- $2 Dress Down Friday, December 16
- December 31 - DEADLINE for 2023-2024 current student registration
- Schoolwide assessment begins January 4
- FREE Classic Skate Night, Wednesday January 11, 5 - 8 pm
- Lottery opens for siblings and other students - January 23
- Middle of Year Progress Reports - February 3
Thank you to everyone who have worked so hard to get your kids to school on time! Even the cute mom who met me in the parking lot wiping the chocolate off her kid's faces who made sure I knew they may not be 100% clean but they were on time :) Except on snowy days, our average morning tardies have dropped from 60 per day to 20.
Please keep reading for more information about this past week and events for the upcoming week.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Lani Rounds
Principal
Snow Days - Late Start
Our students travel from Brigham to Layton and points in between. If it is bad weather at your house and you do not feel it is safe to drive then please keep your students at home and have them login and do Imagine Learning if you are able. Call the school and excuse their absence.
Visible Learning Traits - REVIEW
Our mission is personalized learning but more importantly, to teach kids to be accountable and take ownership of their own learning. These visible learning traits will help a child become a lifelong learner well beyond their years at Bridge.
You can find a link to all of the traits on our website at:
2023-2024 Registration for CURRENT STUDENTS Deadline December 31
IF YOU SKIP EVERYTHING ELSE PLEASE AT LEAST READ THIS
The DEADLINE for registration for current students is December 31, 2022. The week in which we return from break in January, we will follow up with those who have not completed the registration and either help them register their student or decline their spots for the upcoming school year. This will allow us an accurate count when we open the lottery on January 23, 2023.
We cannot stress this enough - if you want your child to return to Bridge next school year, this is not a time to let that ugly procrastination monster rear its ugly head If you need help registering your student PLEASE call the office or stop by and let us help. We do NOT want to give your child's spot away to random kiddos - we love your kids and want to keep them.
Hot Chip and Candy Challenges
Please let your students know this is a VERY dangerous practice. A child may have a life altering allergic reaction to one of these items OR as in the case earlier this week, a child may become violently ill from ingesting one of the items. Students may NOT bring these types of food items to school and they may certainly NOT share them with others. If they do, suspension WILL occur. Teachers have shared this information with students and an email was sent to all parents on Tuesday but PLEASE take a moment to share the importance of keeping these items away from school and the consequences if they are brought to school.
Pie in the Face Day in 4th Grade
Ballet for Aliens
You can find more information about Plan B Theater and Ballet for Aliens on their website at:
Negative Lunch Balances - PLEASE Help
It is NOT too late to apply for Free/Reduced meals for any meals going forward. You simply login to Aspire and use the FREE REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION on the right side to complete the form. If you need help accessing Aspire you can find information on our website or by calling the office at (801)499-5180.
If you want to donate to help cover these negative balances, you can drop money off at the office and ask that it is put in the HAPPY GO LUCKY account. This is a lunch donation account. At the end of the year we use the funds to help pay off the negative balances.
Recess in Winter
Students who need to remain inside for recess can remain in the classroom IF the teacher is available for supervision. If the teacher is not available, the student can come to the office and read a book, color or play a game quietly (they need to bring their own supplies).
SNOW ON THE GROUND - please remind your kiddos that snow remains ON THE GROUND. Students who choose to throw snow, flip snow, etc. will have some restorative justice during recess such as sweeping up bark or moving gravel off the scooter path. Yes this is harsh and cruel since everyone loves throwing snowballs EXCEPT the kiddos who are hit with the snowballs.
We have sleds and snow shovels for students to play with when there is snow on the turf. Students can bring their own sleds (saucers or toboggan style only - NO runners or rails) to pull around on the turf. So, make sure your kids plan accordingly and are dressed for the winter weather with gloves, boots, hats, coats and even snow pants if they have them!
3rd Grade Teachers
Nichol Lloyd has been teaching third grade for the past 8 years. Aside from staying home with her own children while they were young, she feels she has the best job in the world! Nichol has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Weber State University with an ESL endorsement. Mrs. Lloyd has 4 sons, one spoiled-rotton-daughter, and the cutest aussie doodle named Maui. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to Bear Lake, hiking, traveling, reading, house projects and she loves warm weather and sunshine.
Teryn Ercanbrack
I absolutely love working for Bridge with all of its amazing staff! Math is my favorite subject, and I have so much fun teaching our fabulous 3rd graders. I enjoy spending time with my family playing games and laughing. My husband lives for vacations and I love joining him on the adventures he plans.
Mari Satterthwaite
I am still in college at WGU, so I don't have a lot of spare time. If I do find a free minute, I love to crochet! I also love playing with my dog, Zoey. I absolutely love Bridge, I feel lucky to say I am working my dream job.
Bullying
Updates to the policy require that students and teachers receive information about bullying and the prevention of bullying. Additionally, a bullying "point person" must be identified. Stacey Archuleta, our At-Risk Programs Coordinator, Stacey@BridgeCharter.org is the appointed individual at the school to bring your bullying concerns to in the event the issues have not been addressed by your child's teacher.
Teachers have received training information regarding bullying and students will have videos and discussions about bullying over the next little while.
The information below comes from stopbullying.gov This site also has a great number of resources for parents.
What Is Bullying?
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.
In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
- An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
- Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
Recently, Utah State Board of Education released Resolution 2021-01 in which they stated, "We call on ourselves and on people everywhere to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group, to take action to create and maintain an environment of dignity and respect for all, and to strive for understanding. We commit to learn from the past but will focus our efforts on building a bright and equitable future."
We will work together with teachers, parents, staff and students to ensure Bridge is a place where ALL kids feel safe and supported and are provided equitable opportunities to success.
This is a link to the USBE Resolution 2021-21
Yearbook Orders
Code = BridgeES
Pre Pay code = BridgeYB23
Link to Order: YEARBOOK ORDER
Power Chess Spring Sign Up
Online Lunch Payments
When payments are made online we must complete several steps to get the payments moved to Aspire. We do this every Monday and Wednesday. After we run the online report it takes another day for the money to post to your student's Aspire account. Please allow 3 - 5 days from the day you make the online payment to the day the information posts in Aspire.
The link to make payments online is found on our website by selecting the MEALS icon.
Volunteers
- Cutting Watch Me Learn tickets (stop by the office)
- Pulling weeds in the rock areas and park strips (we have all the area in front of the school and up 4800 S along the school fence).
- Using rakes and shovels to redistribute the gravel from the bottom of the retention area in front of the school to the top area to cover the black landscape screen.
- Parking lot duty before and after school (just check in at the office, put on a yellow vest and talk to Travis in the crosswalk for instructions)
https://www.bridgecharter.org/volunteer-opportunities
Once your family has logged 30 volunteer hours they will have a frog put into our Volunteer Pond in the foyer.
If you want to volunteer but do not have the time, you can donate $90 to cover the 30 hours. If you choose to donate, complete the volunteer form. You can donate in the office or by using our DONATE icon on the home page of our website.
Excuse an Absence
Title I
Bridge Elementary receives our Title I funding based on the percentage of students that qualify for free or reduced lunch. For this reason we encourage ALL families to apply for Free/Reduced lunch through Aspire to ensure every single student receives the services needed, including access to free or reduced meals if appropriate.
Title I provides avenues for parent input and participation. We do this through our surveys and the link to the form on our website which allows parents to submit questions and suggestions.
You can find more information about Title I as well as a form to ask questions or provide suggestions regarding Title I, on our website at:
Who to Contact for What
At-Risk Programs Coordinator - Stacey Archuleta - Stacey@BridgeCharter.org
- Morning Supervision and BASE
- Behavior including Bullying
- 504 Plans
Lead Secretary - Lalani Williams - Lwilliams@BridgeCharter.org
- Aspire
- Lottery
- Registration
School Nurse - Vicki Ross - Vicki@bridgecharter.org
Special Education
Diane Nelson Lead SpED Teacher - Diane@BridgeCharter.org
Julie Christensen SpED Director - Julie@BridgeCharter.org
ELL Coordinator - Nichol Lloyd - Nichol@BridgeCharter.org
Meal Issues - Jodi Jensen - Jodi@BridgeCharter.org
Classroom Teachers - see website - https://www.bridgecharter.org/teachers
- Daily activities for your child
- Student progress
- Questions about student schedule
About Bridge Elementary Charter
Email: info@bridgecharter.org
Website: bridgecharter.org
Location: 4824 Midland Drive, Roy, UT
Phone: (801)499-5180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgeCharter