Bridges Community School

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We have had a wonderful start to the school year! Next week will be our first early release Wednesday where our student day ends at 12:50. If you would like gap care from 12:50-2:50, please take a moment to fill out this survey: lhttps://forms.gle/f9aTJnVCbBDAiT6e7. If a survey isn't completed, we will send your student home as the normal plan would be.

Please take a moment to look at the photos below to see the friendships and learning that has already started!

Working Together, Mrs. Rittmiller

Thank you for filling out our survey for Bridges 2.0. Our innovation team will be meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17 to review the survey results, learn about the choice school process, and to learn about choice school options. We will continue to communicate after each of our innovation meetings. Look for the continued updates in the Bridges Breeze.

Drop Off: Please drop off your student/s on the west side of the school (playground end) between 7:55-8:10 am. We take attendance at 8:20. Please have your child to school between 7:55-8:10 for breakfast.

Pick Up: Please pick up your student/s on the west side of the building (by the playground) at 2:50 PM. Your student/s will be in line with the homeroom teacher to make contact with you! Once your student sees you, they will let their teacher know and we will dismiss!

Picking Up Your Child During the School Day: If you need to pick up your child before the end of the school day, please contact the school office prior to your arrival. We will get your child ready to go. When you arrive, you can either call the office to ask for someone to walk your child out to you, or you can ring the buzzer at the front door and wait for your child to meet you there.

Attendance: Please call the school office at (507)387-2800 if your child is sick or is going to miss school.

Medication: If your child needs to take, or keep, medication at school, please contact our Health Assistant, Mrs. Kelly. We are not allowed to give medication at school without the appropriate documentation from a physician.

12:30-1:45 - Students will be doing stations with their classroom (BAC is looking for voluteers to support the stations) Link for sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FACAA23A1FAC07-51309130-2024#/

1:45 - Warm-Ups on the Green Space by the playground.

**Families are welcome to walk a lap or two with your child/ren.

**Please check in with the teacher if you plan to walk with your child/ren.

2:25 - Prepare for dismissal

Each year, BAC updates the email list to current families only. This switch will be made mid-September. Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/nroMgmadFMNDUoMZ6 if you haven't done so. At least 50 Bridges families are still missing from the list. You need to sign up even if you are currently receiving BAC emails.

Please come to Bridges on Sunday, September 22nd to support our 5th graders and get your car washed for $8.00.

Mankato Area Public Schools uses a variety of digital tools to support student learning. Technology vendors and software is utilized to support work as we help all students develop the skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world.

We have an inventory of our curriculum, testing, and assessment tools posted on our district website at bit.ly/4835DET (or directly to our Learn Platform page bit.ly/3R9xvRB). This list is maintained and communicated annually to all families at the start of the school year.

Please reach out to your building principal for additional questions regarding the use of the specific digital tools in classrooms. Please reach out to MAPS technology department regarding data, privacy, and vendor inquiries of the specific digital tools.

Sincerely,

Jody Rittmiller, Bridges Community School Principal

Angie Potts, Director of Educational Technology

Students are encouraged to maintain a routine of safety and communication with their parents.

Student cell phones/electronic watches must not be used and will be stored in their backpack throughout the entire school day. Bridges staff is not responsible for lost, broken, or stolen cell phones or devices.

Tech toys and favorite toys from home should be kept at home. Toys can distract from learning and interrupt instruction.

Bridges staff cannot ensure the safety of the child’s prized possessions so a policy of keeping them at home has been established.

“Sharing” is a valuable learning tool that promotes public speaking and dialogue. Each teacher has a classroom policy for such activities and toys brought for that purpose should remain in the backpack or stored in the classroom for safekeeping.

Weapons of any kind; toy, real or artifact can not be brought to school at any time. If an artifact is questionable for an enhanced learning experience contact Jody Rittmiller, Principal for permission.

Lost and Found

If your child loses anything at school, be sure to have him/her check the Lost and Found in the hallway outside the lunchroom and check with office staff.

Students should place found items in the same area.

Items of value should be dropped off at the office. Money found will be kept for a period of time and if unclaimed may be rewarded to the student who found it.

Lost and found will be shared quarterly at all school meetings. Parents are welcome to search the lost and found for missing items at any time.

Lost and found items not claimed by June 30th of the current school year will be discarded or given to charity.

Bridges staff is not responsible for lost, broken, or stolen treasures.

Here is the Bridges Handbook for your review

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.

September:

Sept. 16 - BAC Fundraiser (Buffalo Wild Wings) 11AM-11PM

Sept. 18 - 2 Hour Early Release (12:50)

Sept. 19 - Bus Evacs K-5 (8:40)

Sept. 22 - 5th Grade Carwash Fundraiser (1-5 pm & Bridges)

Sept. 23 - BAC Meeting (6:30)

October:

Oct. 2 - Custodian Appreciation Day

Oct. 4 - Bridges Walk-a-Thon

Oct. 7 - PBIS Meeting (3:00)

Oct. 8 - Innovation & Choice School Mtg (3:00)

Oct. 9 - 2 Hour Early Release (12:50)

Oct. 10 - History Fest/McGowan’s Farm (4th/5th Grade)

Oct. 14 - No School - Indigenous Peoples' Day

Oct. 17-18 - No School - MEA Break

You can keep this if you have construction coming or are in the middle of construction. You can share traffic pattern changes, space availability changes, sneak peaks to your families of coming attractions!

Check in with the MAPS Bond Construction portion of our website.

The 2023 November Bond Referendum that was passed included secure and welcoming entrances at all MAPS Schools. Bridges Community School, Roosevelt Elementary, Washington Elementary, and Dakota Meadows Middle School entrance projects were started in May 2024.

What is a secure entrance?

A secure entrance will require anyone coming into the school to first pass through the office in order to access the rest of the school.

Each student and staff member matters to all of us at Bridges! We will be starting You Matter Tuesday on Tuesday, Sept. 24th!!

Our team of caring, passionate, and committed professionals wants you! Applying for available positions is simple, fast and secure. Our online application system allows you to start and save an application, submitting it when you are sure that it’s complete. We have current openings as a resource paraprofessional and a lunchroom/recess supervisor for 2 hours a day!

Find your next career here in MAPS!