The 2011-12 Bridge School year is off to a great start, as we had a lively and fun opening night picnic with lots of families attending. We welcome several new families, some new siblings and welcome back one family that spent last year in Singapore.

We were fortunate that Tropical Storm Irene spared most of Middlebury and Addison County, given the terrible devastation around the state. Two Bridge School families in Granville, one family in Brandon and one family in Hancock were affected, most particularly by being cut off by road flooding.  We were relieved that everyone was safe, and delighted that they were all able to attend school on the first day, despite their difficulties.

We started this school year with two and a half weeks of community building activities done by the entire school as well as with parents at the opening picnic: – cooperative games, trust exercises and wall-climbing. Bridge School parent Daniel Scharstein trained staff and parents in safe belaying of the gym climbing wall, and many parents and students participated. We never could have done it without the incredible support of many parents who were willing to get trained and to belay.  Each home center had a turn on the wall with students who chose to participate each having two opportunities to climb.

This summer our Head of School, Poppy Rees, enrolled in Castleton State College’s Woodruff Institute, taught by Harry Chaucer, a Bridge School Board member and alumni parent. Her graduate level class was called “Leading with Integrity” and participants were mainly aspiring and new principals. Poppy also attended a three-day conference held by the Vermont Principal’s Association where she met fellow leaders of Vermont schools.  She noted that concerns expressed by many public schools were not a problem at Bridge School, specifically their wanting to find ways to involve teachers in curriculum development and decision making and how to get parents involved in the school. These are two of the strengths of Bridge School!

Watch for our New Sign

Earlier this year, Bridge School successfully applied for and was awarded a grant for a new sign that will be placed on school property facing the much-traveled Route 7.  The grant opportunity, called “Grants for Success,” was made available to non-profits and charitable organizations across Vermont from the sign company, Sign*A*Rama, based in Williston, Vermont.  Our grant covers the full cost of the post-mounted sign and is one of only two 100% awards that were granted through the program this year.  The sign will increase our visibility in the community as well alert drivers to the presence of the school.  We’re hoping to have the sign installed this fall so look for it as you drive by on Route 7!