Bridges Community School
March 2019
Mark Your Calendars
Feb. 26 - Science Fair
Mar. 5 - Site Council Meeting
Mar. 8 - No School
Mar. 11 - Spring Conferences & Book Fair 3:30 - 8:30
Mar. 13 - Young Writers and Artists Conference (Grades 3-5)
Mar. 14 - Spring Conferences & Book Fair 3:30 - 8:30
Mar. 15 - North Mankato Taylor Library (3rd Grade)
Mar. 15 - Planetarium at East HS (1st Grade)
Mar. 18 - Music Informances (K/2nd/4th - Mrs. Brinkman's Class)
Mar. 18 - BAC Meeting
Mar. 19 - Spring Conferences & Book Fair 3:30 - 7:30
Mar. 20 - Music Informances (K/2nd/4th - Mrs. Payne's Class)
Mar. 21 - Read & Feed Day
Mar. 22-29 - No School / Spring Break
Apr. 4 - Cub Connection 5:30pm-7:00pm
Apr. 9 - Site Council Meeting
Apr. 11 - Children's Theatre/The Hobbit (Grades 3-5)
Apr. 12 - Monarch Meadows (4th Grade)
It's Time for Conferences!
Monday, March 11th - 3:30PM-8:30PM
Thursday, March 14th - 3:30PM-8:30PM
Tuesday, March 19th - 3:30PM-7:30PM
*Please only sign up for one conference time per student/family.
The Book Fair will be held in the Gymnasium, on the stage during conference hours. The Book Fair will close at 7:00pm on Tuesday, March 19th. Please stop by and visit the Book Fair!
Please click on the link below to sign up for conferences.
https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Bridges_Community_School
Thank you!
Kindergarten Registration
BAC Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction
1. We are still looking for many silent auction donations, family contributions, and business sponsors. Please considering helping in any way you can to make this event a success. Email BAC bridgesadvisorycommittee@gmail.com for more information on how you can help.
2. All spaghetti dinner ticket packets will be distributed at conferences.
3. We will need volunteers for the day of the spaghetti dinner, April 25 at the Kato Ballroom! A volunteer sign up will be emailed out in April, but PLEASE save the date and consider volunteering for set up and working the night of the event.
4. We will be having a cereal walk this year instead of a cake walk! This means that your child will win boxes of cereal instead of cake! Who doesn't want a lot of extra breakfast cereal in their pantry?! We will have a donation box in the Bridges office for cereal donations.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2019, 05:30 PM
Kato Ballroom, Chestnut Street, Mankato, MN, USA
From the School Counselor, Mrs. Olivo
This month in my lesson's we have been talking about the Zones of Regulation. The Zones are a way for us to learn about emotions, identify our feelings and develop strategies for communicating our feelings to others. Next month we will further this learning by practicing our strategies for managing and regulating our emotions.
The Zones consist of four color-coded zones that feelings can be sorted into based on the energy they produce in the our body:
- Blue (feeling slow such as tired, bored or sad)
- Green (ready to learn, calm, happy)
- Yellow (having extra energy, excited, nervous, frustrated)
- Red (loss of control, angry, terrified, mean)
Some ways to help your child use the Zones would be:
- Name feelings you are experiencing or they might be experiencing ("right now I am frustrated")
- Help them identify the Zone they are in ('it seems like you are in the Blue Zone because you are sad")
- Remind them that all feelings are okay, but we must always work to handle our feelings in a safe and healthy way!
If you would like to contact me, feel free to email me at aolivo1@isd77.k12.mn.us or call me at 507-207-5238. Thanks! Mrs. Olivo
New Superintendent Search
The Mankato Area Public Schools ISD 77 School Board has contracted with School Exec Connect, a superintendent search firm, to assist with the search for a new superintendent. Board members want you to be informed of the process that we will be following as we conduct the search for a new superintendent. Additionally, we hope that you will give your input to assist us in making the best selection possible.
To begin the process, the School Exec Connect consultants will meet with board members, school staff, parents, students and community members individually and in focus groups over the next couple of weeks to determine the challenges, strengths, goals of our district and what characteristics or skills you would like to see in our next superintendent.
You may choose to give your confidential feedback by accessing the Mankato Area Public Schools ISD 77 website at www.isd77.org and completing the online feedback form. All replies will be confidential. Please submit feedback no later than February 26.
School Board, Mankato Area Public Schools ISD 77
Darren Wacker, Chair
Jodi Sapp, Vice-Chair
Judi Brandon, Treasurer
Sara Hansen, Clerk
Kristi Schuck
Abdi Sabrie
Ann Hendricks
Dress for the Weather
When Spring rolls around we have students continue to wear coats or jackets until the temperature reaches above 50 degrees.
We do allow 3rd-5th grade students to decide whether they need a jacket or not at 50+ degrees. Our policy for the younger ones when it reaches 50+ degrees is to follow your lead. If parents send them in a coat or jacket, they are expected to wear it. Once we hit 60+ we do allow them the opportunity to choose to take it off when they are at play.
Snow Days
Bridges Parent Pick Up Protocol
All students are dismissed at the end of the day at 2:40. Teachers dismiss ACES students from their classrooms at 2:35 and take the rest of the students outside to line up for pick up. Students are dismissed to their bus line at 2:40 and walkers are dismissed.
Parents wishing to pick up early from school or parents who pick up at the end of the day must follow the protocol to ensure your child’s safety.
Students are dismissed by their classroom teacher to a parent or legal guardian.
Parents wishing to have an alternative adult pick up their children must notify the office of who that person is so the office can notify the teacher. (Routine alternate adult pick ups can be set up at the beginning of the year.)
Babysitters - please leave their name and days for pick up with office staff.
Grandparents - please leave their name with office staff.
Friends - when student is going home with another family. (We cannot have other parents volunteer to take a student home without parent permission.)
Relatives - please leave name with office staff.
We cannot release students to adults other than the parent or guardian without notification even if the child is able to identify the adult.
We will release a student to an adult registered as an emergency contact in the event we cannot get in touch with the parent or guardian.
Parents calling in to let us know they are running late must understand that their children will be brought to the office at 2:45 and should be picked up as soon as possible. Late pick up cannot be a habit or pattern due to business that is conducted after student hours by Bridges staff. ACES is available for routine or daily late pick ups.
Rain Days and Below Zero Days
Students should enter door 2 on rainy days and below zero days in the morning between 7:45-8:00. They can go to the auditorium where they will have staff supervision until time for school to begin. The main entrance, door 1, will be opened at 8:00a.m.
Students will remain in their rooms on rainy days and below zero days until 2:40 pick up. Parents should pick up their children in their classrooms at the end of the day. Bus students will be excused when buses arrive and ACES will be excused at 2:40.
Students will have indoor breaks and recess on rainy days and below zero days.
Illness and Attendance
If your child has had a fever or has been vomiting, we ask that you keep them home 24 hours after symptoms are gone without medication. Please call the school office attendance line: 207-5204 if your child is ill or has a doctor's appointment and will be in after. Please contact the school office if your child will be out of school or late for any reason. If you let your child’s teacher know through email, please email Tammy Hayes as well at thayes1@isd77.k12.mn.us
Head Lice: Please report so the office is aware of it. District Policy states parents are notified if three cases are in one classroom. A request to treat is made by the school nurse. Parents are not mandated to pull their child from school for treatment but it will be advised.Late Start Days
Lunch
Parents are welcome to eat lunch at any time. Please let the office know by 9:00a.m. on the day that you plan to eat. Lunch for parents and visitors is $3.75. We do not have any cash in the office so please bring correct change. Parents and siblings may not use student pin numbers.
School lunch times:
Kindergarten - Lunch 11:00-11:20 Recess - 11:20-11:40
First Grade - Lunch 11:30-11:50 Recess - 11:50-12:10
Second Grade - Lunch 11:15-11:35 Recess - 11:35-11:55
Third Grade - Lunch 11:45-12:05 Recess - 12:05-12:25
Fourth Grade - Recess 11:40-12:00 Lunch - 12:00-12:20
Fifth Grade - Recess 11:50-12:10 Lunch - 12:10-12:30
Community Group and All School Meeting
Bridges Community School
320 Garfield Avenue, North Mankato
Phone: 507-387-2800 / Fax: 507-387-3143
Lead Teacher: Robin Courrier
Secretary: Amanda Robinson
Nurse: Tammy Hayes