Bridges Breeze

WOW! The summer weather has been warm and filled with LONG SUNNY days! I hope your family has enjoyed some time together and your schedules aren't quite as busy as during the school year!

The building has been very quiet without students and most staff in the building, but it is certainly looking clean! A huge thanks to Mr. Mike for all of his hard work extracting carpets, cleaning the boilers and making our school something we are PROUD of!

We look forward to welcoming any new students to Bridges this fall in grades K-5! We also look forward to seeing returning students back to learn, grow and continue friendships! Bridges is a wonderful community that values each child for individual strengths!

Family newsletters are a way to communicate with you and keep you up to date! There will be another newsletter in August and bi-monthly throughout the school year! Families will learn about homeroom teachers and pre-conference sign up information in August. Please reach out if you ever have any questions!

Working together,

Jody Rittmiller

Teaching Staff:

Neely Hagedorn – Kindergarten

Mandy Shaw – Kindergarten

Michelle Modrow – First Grade

Mary Jane Hollerich – First Grade

Chelsea Copeland/Renea Ratzloff - Second Grade

Bretta Hansen – Second Grade

Summer Gerber - Third Grade

Sandy Hatlestad – Third Grade

Jeremy Olson – Fourth Grade

Teri Townsend - Fourth Grade

Mandi Carleton - Fifth Grade

Jenny Reed – Fifth Grade

Christine Seeman- Resource Room

Annakeiko Reichel - ASD

Jeanne Anderson - Art

Elizabeth Zarn - STEM

Karla Giesen - Media

Kristin Baty & Sarah Chambers - Music

Jeremy Burger – Phy Ed

Elizabeth Holmgren - MLL

Sandy Ewel – Speech

Hope Grabau - OT

Annika Olivo– Counselor

Tom Wolfe - Psychologist

Ann Schmitz- Assessment Specialist

Paraprofessionals:

Kristin Diekmann

Sarah Kitzmann

Julie Timmerman

TBD (Student Success Coach)

Kriselle Brobst (Media Assistant/ Lunchroom POS)

Custodians:

Michael Stoeckel - Head Custodian

Al Young - Evening Custodian

Mentor Coach:

Tricia Conetta

Social Worker:

Molly Fox

Kitchen Staff:

Jessica Greenwood (Head Cook)

Mary Chatleain (Second Cook)

Reading Corps:

Sky Kempf (M/W/F)

Principal: Jody Rittmiller

Secretary: Amanda Robinson

School Nurse: Holly Kelly

Site Council/BAC Leadership:

Nicole Blace – BAC President (2024)

Molly Fritz - BAC President (2024)

Rajini Saride – BAC Vice President (2023)

Kristi Regenscheid – BAC Treasurer (2024)

Matthew Clay – BAC Recorder (2023)

Ines Wingert - Site Council Rep (2024)

Hilary Kent - Site Council Rep (2024)

Jenny George - Site Council Rep (2023)

Vanessa Tompkins - Site Council Rep (2024)

Erik Hagedorn - Site Council Rep (2023)

Marguerite Webber - Site Council Rep (2023)

Just a reminder that Bridges Advisory Council (BAC), which is our PTO, will be purchasing all school supplies for students. There is no need to purchase any supplies other than a backpack and gym shoes! BAC will be letting families know in August what the suggested donation of supplies will be as well as snack cart.

We are excited for the school year ahead, and we’re already thinking about the 5th grade field trip. On Sunday, September 24th from 1-5 pm, we are asking all 5th graders to participate in a brand new fundraising event, a 5th Grade Car Wash. For a small fee, community members will be able to visit our students at Bridges in the back parking lot to get their car washed and sip on a lemonade. Our students will be asked to put in the work to raise money toward the 5th Grade Field Trip (May 15-17). A volunteer sign up will be emailed soon. Connect with Katie Boone if you’d like to help.

Look forward to our Heggies Pizza Fundraiser and meetings, but for now, please save the date - Sunday, September 24th. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you!

Katie Boone

Need busing for the 2023-2024 school year? Transportation Registration Forms will be completed online this year. Not sure if your student qualifies for transportation, click here to find out. If your student qualifies for transportation, please complete the form by clicking on this link. If you do not have access to a device you can visit the central registration office at the Intergovernmental Center (10 Civic Center Plaza) to complete a form. All forms are due by July 15th in order for busing to be available on the first day of school.

The BackPack and Power Pack Food Programs are free programs providing students in grades K-8 with weekend food packs containing breakfast, lunch and a snack for each day off of school. As of right now, food packs will be delivered weekly directly to a students backpack while they are at lunch or on break. Sign up today to give your child an additional boost of nutrition.

Backpack link

August:

Aug. 21 - New Teacher Workshop Begins

Aug. 28 - All Teacher Workshop Begins

Aug. 28 - BAC meeting 7-8pm (Bridges Media Center)

Aug. 30 - Bridges Picnic - 5:30-7:30 Wheeler Park

September:

Sept. 5 & 6 - Entrance Conferences and School Pictures

Sept. 7 - First Day of School

Sept. 20 - 2 Hour Early Release (12:50)

Sept. 24 - 5th Grade Carwash Fundraiser (1-5 pm)

October:

Oct. 5 - Picture Retake Day

Oct. 6 - Bridges Walk-a-Thon

Oct. 9 - No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day

Oct. 11- 2 Hour Early Release (12:50)

Jody Rittmiller, Principal

Amanda Robinson, Administrative Assistant

Email: jrittm1@isd77.org
Website: https://bcs.isd77.org/
Location: 320 Garfield Avenue, North Mankato, MN, USA
Phone: (507)387-2800