Bridges Community School

Bridges Community School Connection

November 6, 2026

School Hours 8:10 am-2:50 pm

Students are marked tardy at 8:20 am

Message from the Principal

Dear Bridges Families

As the weather continues to change our friendships continue to GROW!

Bridges continues to be implementing the new reading curriculum of Arts and Letteters and daily phonics (UFLI for Grades K-3 and 95% Group for Grades 4-5).
Students are collaborating, writing, and reading daily! K-5, there are amazing things happening!
Staff is supporting each student to ensure our students feel welcome, belong and learn reading, math, and all of the content around MN Standards!
Families, you are essential to our community of responsibility, respect and safety!

Warmly,

Mrs. Jody Rittmiller

Principal, Bridges Community School

Our Committments

Conferences & Book Fair

We can't wait to see you for our fall conferences!

Please click here to sign up for conferences.

BAC will have the book fair set up on the gymnasium stage during conferences

Bridges conference date/times:

Monday, November 16th 3:20-8:30

Tuesday, November 17th 3:20-8:30

Thursday, November 19th 3:20-7:00 *Please note that the Book Fair will close at 6:00PM on the final conference night

Class Photo Ordering - Order by Nov. 15th

Winter Weather Information

Snow season is just around the corner! In preparation, here is an important resource that is available on the ISD77 website for your review:

Weather Related Information - includes details on where to find out about weather related closings and late starts. Please note the MAPS Notification Line: 507-387-6046.

Please contact our office with any questions or concerns.

Winter Gear for Kids - Nov. 7th

Event Information

Winter Gear for Kids

When?

Saturday, Nov 7, 2026, 08:00 AM

Where?

Spring Lake Park, Webster Avenue, North Mankato, MN, USA

location_on Open maps

Bridges Global Studies Update

The Basics of Global Studies Education

Global Studies is an intentional, interdisciplinary approach to learning.

Instead of teaching these subjects in isolated silos, Global Studies integrates them to mirror how the real world works.

Focus on the Process: In a Global Studies classroom, the process of planning and designing, testing, and failing is just as valuable as the final product.
Real-World Context: Lessons are framed around authentic, messy, real-world problems rather than abstract textbook exercises.
Connections are Everywhere: Places, People, History, Community, Global World and our Environment. We connect with our community, languages (Spanish and Korean so far this year)

The Basics of Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL)

If Global Studies is what we teach, Inquiry-Based Learning is how we teach it. IBL flips the traditional classroom model on its head: instead of starting with answers, we start with questions. - We provoke curiosity!

Here are a few videos to understand IBL lessons:

IBL - developing student driven questions

IBL - Types of inquiry

IBL - tiny house project What does it mean to be an inquiry teacher

You Matter! Oct. 27

K - Emma V., Tessa C., 1 - Crosby E., Nicolas T., 2 - Mia M., Pixie M., 3 - Tyler W., Silas Z., 4 - Sophia C., Timothy S., 5 - Gwendolyn G., Audrey O.

Ms. Portner (Grade 2) and Mrs. Modrow (Grade 3)

Mrs. Natalie (Social Worker) and Mrs. Ehlers (Special Ed)

You Matter! Nov. 3

K - Kirian C., Maisyn W., 1 - Keenan F., Ada L., 2 - Eleanor W., Garrett W., 3 - Joey T., Dorothy L., 4 - Violet W., Lilliana G., 5 - Max R., Aubrey G.

Learning Science

Bridges and Focus School Lottery Process

Key Dates for 2026-2027:

October 1, 2026 Application Window Opened
January 22, 2027 Application Window Closes
February 8, 2027 The notification process to Families of elected seats through application lottery begins; Everyone in the lottery will receive either an offer or waitlist notification.
Deadline to Accept or Decline Accepted Applications is one week from the date the offer notification is sent.
If you are enrolled at Bridges or one of the focus schools, you don't need to re-enroll.

Please read this document for more information regarding the lottery process for Bridges Community School, Rosa Parks and Jefferson. Click here

Information and Tour Sessions:

Monday, Nov. 16 - Rosa Parks @ 5:30 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 17 - Jefferson @ 5:30 pm

Thursday, Nov. 19 - Bridges @ 5:30 pm

No Parking between 7:00-8:00 am and 2:30-3:30 pm - Yellow BUS ZONES 7:00-8:30 and 2:30-3:30

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe every day! To ensure a smooth arrival and dismissal process and avoid safety hazards, please take a moment to review these parking and drop-off guidelines:

Garfield Ave. Parking Restrictions: Parking is prohibited on the south side of Garfield Ave. between the posted signs during peak traffic times (7:00–8:00 AM and 2:30–3:30 PM). Please park farther down on the west side of Garfield Ave., closer to the playground or at Wheeler Park if there isn't any other street parking.
Bus Zone: Please keep the yellow bus zone clear during arrival and dismissal times (7:00–8:30 AM and 2:30–3:30 PM). Our morning bus typically arrives between 8:13-8:18. The bus zone morning time has been extended to 8:30 due to the bus times.
No Double Parking: Double parking blocks the flow of buses and neighborhood traffic and creates serious safety risks for children crossing the street.

Drop-Off Doors & Rainy Days:

Standard Drop-Off (7:55–8:20 AM): Please enter through Door 1 after 8:10. Door 2 will be locked at this time. We have staff ready to supervise daily at 7:55 am.
Rainy Days: Door 1 is the only open door on rainy mornings so we can supervise students inside the gymnasium and cafeteria until school begins.

Thank you for your cooperation and for keeping our parking areas safe for everyone!

Thank you for continuing to keep Bridges safe for all students and staff.

If you have any individual concerns regarding student safety and/or bullying, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/AG47V16VjkVqQqf76

Mankato Area Public Schools is implementing Raptor VisitorSafe to create a consistent daytime visitor check-in process. Visitors entering Bridges will use a kiosk in the secured vestibule (door 1 and our main entrance) and should bring a driver's license, passport, student ID or employee ID. Manual entry is available without ID. After office staff review the check-in, approved visitors receive a printed badge to wear while in the building. The kiosk offers English, Spanish and Somali, and staff are available to assist. Visitors who are only dropping off an item and leaving do not need to complete check-in.

pdf

insert_drive_file

Raptor_Safe_Visitor_Flyer_Final.pdf

Set up Raptor Safe before your visit to Bridges! Create your Raptor Passport before you arrive for a faster check-in at Bridges.

Download

603.6 KB

Parent Volunteer Background Check

Field trip chaperones MUST have a background check on file.

To ensure the safety of our MAPS students and staff some changes have been made to the Volunteer background check policy.

MAPS volunteers are required to complete a BCA background check prior to volunteering with students.

What this means for you:

If you have not completed a background check this year with Bridges Community School/MAPS please pick up a paper form from the Bridges office or the classroom teacher.

Thank you for taking this step to keep our students safe and thank you for your willingness to chaperone with our Bridges Bears!

Nutrition Services

This school year, Nutrition Services is introducing SchoolCafé Family Hub, a new, more inclusive online platform for managing your student's meal account. Families will need to create a new SchoolCafé Family Hub account. You will need your student's Infinite Campus student number to connect them to your account.

With SchoolCafé, families can:

Apply for Educational Benefits to qualify for reduced middle and high school activity fees
Set up low-balance notifications
View meal purchases
Access school menus

Please follow the instructions below to create your account.

Campus Parent for MAPS Student Number Information: https://mankatomn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/mankato.jsp

Forgot how to access your Infinite Campus Parent account? Follow these instructions

SchoolCafé Website: https://family.schoolcafe.com/MAPS

Set up your SchoolCafé Account with these instructions.

Questions? Contact the Nutrition Services Office:

Summer hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Phone: 507-388-7442
Email: nutritionservice@isd77.org
Address: 15 Map Drive, Mankato, MN 56001

Visitor lunch cost is $5.50

Milk cost is $0.55 (for cold lunch)

Bridges All School Meetings

Our next one is on Nov. 20

Bridges has All School Meetings on most Fridays - Parents, please wait until after students enter the building at 8:10 to come into the building! Thanks!

"Bridges Connects: Celebrating Community, Culture, and Learning Together!"

What We Do: Celebrate student "Spotteds," honor our diverse cultures, share Global Studies and our Lifeskills, sing and perform together! Students can also sign up to share a talent in the office.

Family Reminders: Families are invited to attend from 8:30-8:50. Check the schedule below for when all school meetings are, students will sit with their classes unless the student/s parents/guardians are present, and we ask everyone to join us in singing or school song, saying the pledge and using active listening.

Youth Mental Health Navigator

BAC Corner

Find all things BAC on PTBoard – Join Now!

Complete your supply and snack cart contributions – Payment Link

Volunteer for the Book Fair

Bring Food for teacher conference meals

Help out at the Kiwanis Holiday lights

Add the BAC Calendar to your phone

Yearbook - Please email your photos to the yearbook committee at bridgesbearsbook@gmail.com

Student Calendar for 2026-27 School Year

ACES Registration

Please go to this website to register for ACES: https://mankato.ce.eleyo.com/child-care/1/aces-school-age-child-care

Bridges Morning ACES is from 6:30-8:00 am

Bridges Afternoon ACES is from 2:50-6:00 pm

Mental Health Hub

The Greater Mankato Mental Health Hub has launched! This hub was developed by Greater Mankato Area United Way's Youth Mental Health/Suicide Prevention Committee and is hosted by the Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

The hub is meant to be a tool for parents and caregivers to easily find information on crisis support, local mental health services, parent education, and more.

Find more information HERE.

Save the Date!

November:

11 - Two Hour Early Release (12:50 Dismissal)

13 - No School

16 - Fall Conferences & Book Fair (3:20-8:30)

17 - Fall Conferences & Book Fair (3:20-8:30)

19 - Fall Conferences & Book Fair (3:20-7:00).

**Book fair ends at 6:00 on Thursday, Nov. 19

19 - Bridges Global Studies Tours (5:30)

23 - Read & Feed

24-27 - No School/Thanksgiving Break

December:

2 - Children's Theatre/The Grinch (Grades 4-5)

7 - Site Council Meeting

9 - Two Hour Early Release (12:50 Dismissal)

Looking for a way to connect to MAPS? We strive to connect our community to our district and schools. Subscribe to this newsletter to get the current information and links to events.

Follow MAPS Facebook and Instagram for student celebrations:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISD77MAPS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isd77maps/

MAPS Website: https://www.isd77.org/

Bridges BAC Website: BAC website link: : https://bridgesbears.weebly.com/faq.html