Bridport Community Newletter

February 2, 2025

Week 21

Happy Sunday!

We had an incredible week participating in the Great Kindness Challenge! Some highlights were:

1. Laughing, dancing and singing at an all school sock-hop

2. Conversation starters at lunch which promoted connections across grade levels

3. Ice Skating on Friday where all students were kind, helpful and incredible!

4. Making cards and notes for people in our community.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Jenny

Things to Know at BCS

School Counselors Celebrate National School Counseling Week! February 3-7, 2025

National School Counseling Week 2025, “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century.

School counselors actively engage in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; for focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. School counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master’s degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program. More than 100,000 school counselors nationwide will be participating in the week’s festivities. As part of its celebration for National School Counseling Week, Ms. Amber will be doing fun activities in guidance classes, providing information on her role and sending out Talking Points for families. Parents or community members with specific questions or concerns about school counseling programs should contact Ms. Amber or for more general information can also be found on ASCA’s website, www.schoolcounselor.org.

Day of Play

One of the BCS traditions I am most looking forward to this year is Day of Play! Bridport has been participating in the Global Day of Play for over a decade- and I've heard that it is a highlight of the year.

Check out this link for more details: https://globalschoolplayday.com/about

Everybody Wins! is looking for mentors

Everybody Wins! Mentors in Bridport get to spend one hour each week with a student during

their lunch/recess time on either Tuesdays or Thursdays. During this time, mentors and

students will read books, play simple and quick games together, and build a positive adult/child

relationship to help strengthen our growing community, all within the safe and familiar school

environment.

If this sounds like you or someone that you know, spread the word! Talk to our Everybody Wins!

Coordinator Chris Allen. He is at Bridport Central School during lunch and recess on Tuesdays

and Thursdays. You can also email him at bridport@everybodywinsvermont.org or

Call him at (802)999-6874 (or text)

And please visit our website to learn more about Everybody Wins! Vermont.

www.everybodywinsvermont.org

February's All School Read Aloud

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh

Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Mendez was denied enrollment to a “Whites only” school. Her parents took action by organizing the Hispanic community and filing a lawsuit in federal district court. Their success eventually brought an end to the era of segregated education in California.

More about the book:

● An Educator's Guide with vocab, lesson plans, etc.

● Sylvia Mendez video with archival photographs

● Watch a trailer for the book!

● A RIF Guide for Educators

● A RIF Vocabulary Scaffold

Sylvia Mendez & Sandra Mendez Duran Podcast on Storycorps

Upcoming Events

February 3-21st- Progress Report Phone Calls

February 21st- Day of Play!

News from ACSD

Preschool & Kindergarten Enrollment!

Do you have a 3-5 year old ready for preschool? Every preschool age child in ACSD is eligible for 10 FREE hours of preschool at a pre-qualified preschool program and NOW* is the time to begin thinking ahead to the 2025-26 school year. Visit https://mbaker61.wixsite.com/uprek/partners for a list of preschools and more information. Reach out to Ashley Bessette, Universal Prek Coordinator, at abessette@acsdvt.org for support or to ask questions.
*Most preschool programs will begin enrolling in February/March for the 2025-26 school year.
Do you have a child who plans to start Kindergarten in 2025-2026? Make sure they are on our incoming student list! If your child will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025 (or you know a friend or neighbor whose child will be) please reach out to our front office at [your school #]

Elementary Progress Reports

Families will be receiving several important updates about your child’s progress to date:

Progress reports will be sent home in backpacks on Friday, January 31 for all students in grades K-5. In the next two weeks, you will also receive a brief call from your child’s teacher to clarify any questions about your child’s progress report. If you have more in-depth questions, the spring conference window opens next month. At that meeting, you can speak to your child’s teacher in-person about their overall school experience and their academic and social emotional growth.
If your child is on an IEP, they will also receive an IEP progress report.
If your child is in grade K-3 and their recent screening results indicate a need for further support in reading, your teacher will share that information on their call, and you will also receive a letter that shares our plan for supporting your child.