Bridges Area Learning Center
Weekly Reflections January 17th, 2017
Dear Team,
We are certainly underway with the new year! I wonder if there is any scientific research on why time only seems to only accelerate!?! Speaking of time, we are already complete with our second district staff in-service day, Monday January 16th, featuring professional development in a variety of settings, topics, delivery methods and sites. I am so grateful to be in a district that values opportunities and the importance of professional development striving for instructional excellence through work anchored in choice, collaboration and core learning. With the rapid changing landscape of 21st century teaching and learning professional development is only becoming more and more important to ensure that we are as current as possible in best practice, methods, research, information and pedagogy for our work in the classroom and with each other as professional learning teams.
After district driven PD in the morning Bridges staff came together to focus on an afternoon theme of 'The Nature of At-Risk Students'. Our building instructional leadership team decided to make this the focus based on our building goals and data regarding student behavior during this time of the year. Some areas that we focused on were:
- Viewing our students from at-risk to at-promise
- Removing a deficit perspective
- Honor our students' stories and help refine them
- Students will open up when ready; focusing on connections will be important
- Corrected our connecting
- How Does Trust Happen
- The Trauma-Sensitive Teacher
- An Emotional Connection Matters More than Customer Satisfaction.
- An open round-table discussion on select topics including seasonal affective disorder and attendance strategies to name only a few.
Of course, the morning sessions offered time for colleagues to connect regarding a wide variety of topics. It was an awesome day! I loved the opportunity to pause all of the required tasks and routines in order to work with a highly effective team for professional growth. Our goal was certainly met in striving for instructional excellence through work anchored in choice, collaboration and core learning.
#WeArePLSAS
#bridges1617
Warm Regards,
dave
Bridges Teacher of the Year 2016-2017
Melissa Olson
Additionally, she has worked with our team to help all our teachers and staff more effectively support at-risk learners. During the beginning of the school she also served as our social studies and art teacher. Ms. Olson helped write grants for our school to be the first building in the district to receive IPads and this year we were awarded funds to start a Bridges Library to support our reading goals. She has helped re-write and develop classes for underdeveloped readers while continually developing material for her communication classes. She has served as a mentor and is our building representative to Prior Lake-Savage Area Education Association.
Congrats Melissa - keep on supporting our students to positively progress towards earning the PLHS diploma in order for gainful employment or post-secondary education!
Warm Regards,
Dave
From our staff
Andy Martin - Math/FABLAB teacher: I’ve had the privilege of working with Melissa for almost six years and she’s one of the best teachers I know. She deserves this award and I know she’ll continue to do great things for us here at Bridges.
Alexius Serefeas - Communications/Biology teacher: Melissa genuinely cares about each and every student. When she feels that a student is not being reached, it affects her in a deep and personal way. She is intensely passionate on the students’ behalf. Melissa is always willing to try new ideas and new projects. Her classes are exciting and fun because she never allows her teaching to stagnate. If she tries something that doesn’t work, she always has something different to try next time. She is continually innovating herself and her classroom. Melissa is always there to lend a hand. As a very new English teacher, she has always made herself available to me for advice and sounding out ideas. Even when she is busy, she makes sacrifices and puts herself out there to help others and to be there. She is an amazing colleague!
This week @ Bridges
- In-Service day striving for instructional excellence through work anchored in choice, collaboration and core learning.
Tuesday:
- Late Start due to icy road conditions!
- BSAT @ 920am
- Mr. Brown @ DSC
Wednesday:
- Student Intake meeting for Q3
Thursday:
- Student/Parent meeting in Mr. Brown's office @ 8am.
- STRIVE @ lunch
- Learning Team meeting @3pm
Friday:
- Bridges Reading PD @ 730am.
Teacher Corner: Andy Martin, Math & FABLAB
As we descend into the cold, dark days of January and February I often have to remind myself why I do what I do here. There are days were I’m tired, exhausted, frustrated, and a whole other myriad of feelings, but then there are days that make it all worth it. For example, a student showing me their acceptance letter into college, or when they produce fantastic school work. However, I didn’t expect anything less from them. I have to say this year has had one of the best groups of students I’ve encountered, and I know we’ll have a great rest of the quarter, despite the chilly weather. I look forward to quarter three and a great rest of the year!