Bridport Community Newletter

Hello BCS Community!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our 2nd annual Spaghetti Dinner and Basket Raffle fundraiser. It was truly special to see our gym packed full of people to support our students. A BIG thank you goes to our Friends of Bridport group for hosting a fabulous event.

It helped cement the feeling that our school is more than just a place of learning—it's a place where students, families, teachers, and staff come together to support one another and create an environment where every child can thrive.

In order to help our students grow academically, socially, and emotionally, it truly takes all of us working in partnership. Each of us plays a unique role in shaping the experiences and opportunities that our children have here at school.

I encourage all of us to keep the lines of communication open, offer encouragement to our students, and continue fostering a sense of community. Together, we can create a supportive environment where every student feels valued and motivated to reach their full potential.

Let’s continue to be a positive force for one another, whether through collaborative projects, attending school events, or simply checking in with one another. Our collective effort strengthens our community and ensures that our school remains a place where everyone feels like they belong.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community.

Best,

Jenny

Dear Bridport Families,

Act 1 is a Vermont law that requires students in each grade to receive education on personal safety and sexual violence prevention. Beginning on November 12th and ending on December 20th Atria Collective (formerly known as WomenSafeVT) staff will be providing 5 sessions related to Act 1 with our students.

ACT1 Program Overview

K-1/2 lessons will:

1. Teach proper names of body parts and how to name emotions

2. Teach healthy boundaries; physical touch (asking permission before touching and having the right to say no)

3. Help children understand that touch and physical affection are never a secret

4. Help children identify more than 1 trusted adult

3/4 lessons will:

1. Teach how to set and maintain boundaries for safe and responsible relationships

2. Reinforce the use of proper names of all body parts

3. Teach conflict resolution (may be covered in other lessons)

4. Build effective communication skills as a part of healthy relationships

5. Help children understand that touch and physical affection are never a secret

5 lessons will:

1. Teach respectful communication

2. Explore healthy relationships

3. Support students in practicing how to ask for help for themselves and others

4. Examine harassment and sexual harassment and ways to address these problems

5. Help children understand that touch and physical affection are never a secret

Resources for Families:

Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, hot-chocolate-talk-conversation-guide-1.pdf, KidSafe Collaborative

Sincerely,

Jennifer Urban

Amber Bragg

Our staff has been working together this fall to think about our shared values, and how they will help us work towards our common goals. Using the work from Brene Brown, we chose four core values that will be our guiding star as we move through the year.

They are:

Belonging

Integrity

Kindness

Safety

The next steps are to create shared definitions, and what they look like and sound like in our community. Thats where you come in! If you have time, to fill out this survey to share your definitions, or thinking around these values- that would help us tremendously.

Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/ogTa91pNPFBEnmBU6

The Addison Central Special Education Parent Advisory Council is a group of parents working with the district to improve special education services in ACSD.

We hope to have representatives from every school involved- and we are looking for BCS parents who are interested !

Here is our website: https://www.acsdvt.org/student-services/sepac

Our annual meeting is October 29th, 6-7:30 pm. If interested parents contact Jen Thompson, she can share the virtual link and provide more information. jenniferblackburnthompson@gmail.com

This picture book autobiography tells the triumphant story of Sharice Davids, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, and the first LGBTQ congressperson to represent Kansas. Sharice always liked to talk and she liked to learn by listening to others. Sharice wanted to use her voice to make a difference. Sharice knows that everyone deserves to have a voice.

If you'd like more information- check out these links:

• Teaching Guide by Pride and Less Prejudice

• An interview with Congresswoman Sharice Davids by Growing Readers Podcast

• Sharice’s Big Voice Book website and video

• Sharice Davids: National Book Festival 2021

• Congresswoman Sharice Davids on LGBT+ Activism in Education

• Read aloud by US Representative Sharice Davids

• A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving

• Exploring Native American Activism: Teaching Ideas for We Are Still Here! from The Classroom Bookshelf

• Native Knowledge 360° from Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Be sure to explore the Educational Resources for online lessons!)

Wednesday November 13th- Early Release Day

Thursday November 21st- Thanksgiving Luncheon

November 25-29th- No School

As a reminder, all children are entitled to free breakfast and lunch!