Bridges Weekly Reflections
December 14, 2016
Dear Team,
Luckily I have the privilege of working with a staff that relentlessly cares for students!! A staff that understands the difficulties that may be happening and still works to foster a positive, caring relationship. A staff that gets the direct relationship with academics and social/emotional learning. It is not easy. But I see all of you make it look so. Over the years I have commonly heard, year after year, that students here feel it is a family. Thank you for your commitment in making it so. This does not happen accidentally or by coincidence. Our caring, safe and positive environment with high expectations comes from our dedicated staff committed to our students, each other, our school, district and community!
I am looking forward to the next week of school before break! Alexius Serefeas and I have the privilege of attending PL Rotary breakfast Wednesday to accept a donation that will allow ALL Bridges students to receive gift cards and a warm delicious meal going into break. David Lawson and myself will be attending our STRIVE holiday lunch at Fong's restaurant Thursday. Monday will be our all school lunch. Ann Collins, David Lawson, Alexius Serefeas, Candi Jenkins, Cory Callahan and myself will be chaperoning our all school movie field trip to Rogue One Tuesday. And, finally, we will be ending with a JUMP DAY before break! This will be my last Weekly Reflections until after break.
PHEWWWWWW!! I also sincerely hope that your break is restful and refreshing as you all absolutely deserve it! I see that investment you all have for our students, each other and school. Thank you for all you do that has helped launch year 8 so successfully. I look forward to seeing you after break to bring our year home as well as it started.
#WeArePLSAS
#bridges1617
Warm regards,
dave
Week at a Glance
- Student Intake x 2
- BSAT @ 730am
- Mr. Brown @ district admin (am)
- Mr. Brown & Ms. Serefeas @ PL Rotary
- Former School Board member Martha Hoover visit (2pm)
- STRIVE - Holiday Lunch @ Fongs. Mr. Lawson and Mr. Brown to attend
- Reading PD: Development of Library - 730am
- All School Lunch from PL Rotary
- All School Field Trip - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story @ Lakeville Theater
- JUMP DAY - Intervention & Enrichment
- START of winter break!!
Teacher Corner: Ms. Serefeas, English & Biology
For many people, the stretch of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the busiest of the year. This is especially true in education. In addition to the usual bustle and rush of the holidays, things like cooking and shopping and family get-togethers, teachers and educators have extra pressures. Between the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks, there are only three short weeks to deliver meaningful education – before accounting for students being a bit energized and not at their most focused on either end of that stretch, with excitement from the vacation that just ended on one side, and for the vacation about to begin on the other. All told, this bit of the year is three weeks crammed with nearly nonstop activity, errands, and noise that leaves many people frazzled and scrambling to get everything done.
In this mad dash for the Winter Break, with its promise of reprieve and (finally) a chance to get a good night’s sleep, it is important to take a step back. Everyone has so much on their plate that it’s ready to overflow, and with that, it’s important that we all make time to give ourselves a break. Yes, there is much that needs to be done, but little that can’t wait for five minutes while you take a moment of quiet. Creating a silent, peaceful space in your life, whether it be in your home, in your car on your way to work, in the classroom before the start of the day or in the coffee shop down the street, can be immeasurably helpful – a time and place to regroup. In a time when it seems everyone needs us, it is most important to remember that you need to care for yourself first.
And in the spirit of compassion, remember that everyone around you is in the same speedboat that you are, roaring breakneck toward the holiday break. Students, teachers, admin and support staff: we are all in the same place right now, stretched thin and trying to keep up. Be kind to each other. Ask for help when you need it, and offer help where you can. Listen, vent, and remind yourself that you’re almost there. Give solidarity and understanding. After all, a school is like a family, and while every family gets stressed around the holidays, at the end of the day they’re still a family.
Stay strong, and happy holidays.
Recently @ Bridges!
A contemplative Caleb
School Board member Chad Rittenour, Alexius Serefeas and myself accepting a gracious and generous donation from PL Rotary for Bridges. It will allow every kid to have a gift card and warm delicious meal going into break.
Congratulations Mrs. Bauer on your wedding and Happy Birthday!
JUMP DAY Enrichment!
JUMP DAY Enrichment
JUMP DAY Intervention
Lunch @ Bridges
Brando & Nick enjoying life in Ms. Olson's class
From the student support team: Ms. Bauer, Guidance Counselor
Warm December Greetings!
As the holiday break approaches, I am reminded how quickly the year flies by! As the snow and cold begin to settle in, it can be difficult to think about next spring! However, now is the perfect time for seniors (and parents of seniors!) to think about what options are available after graduation. Just this week I had a junior say, “but Mrs. Bauer, I am not at the “regular” high school. How can I get into college?” Not even one hour after that exchange, I assisted one of our current seniors with her application to MN State University-Mankato. Yes, college is certainly within reach and for those who wish to pursue continuing their education through a technical school, community college or four-year college, there are opportunities to do so. That being said, we also know that many of our students may choose to enter the work force right after graduation or enlist in the military. The important point to be made is that “having NO plan is a BAD plan!” Future planning is an aspect of my role as a School Counselor at Bridges Area Learning Center that I am passionate about. Throughout the past two months, I have met with several students to determine a plan for the remainder of this year and to look ahead to graduation. I understand that the goal of most students at Bridges is to attain their high school diploma…a great accomplishment, no doubt! However, we must do more to ENSURE that our students are well prepared for the world they will enter into once they have that diploma and that they can contribute to that community!
Through a statewide career/college exploration database called MnCIS, students can create portfolios that assess interests and skills and then match those interests and skills to possible career opportunities. It also links careers and programs of study with colleges throughout MN and the US. Students currently enrolled in my Work Program course have already created portfolios and have explored potential career choices. As I continue to meet with seniors over the next several weeks, I will introduce them to this database to chart a course for success after graduation.
Knowing that many of our students struggle with credit recovery and sometimes experience a hopeless feeling that the road is just too long, discussing future plans and possibilities can instill a sense of hope and intrinsic motivation. I hope to play an important role in realizing those accomplishments for our students at Bridges Area Learning Center!
Warm Wishes!
Mrs. Jennifer Bauer