School Guidelines

Welcome to Bridge School!

 

Following is a list of topics and guidelines that we would like all parents to read, understand and comply with. These guidelines help keep Bridge School an organized and safe environment for your children.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

School Hours — 8:30 to 2:45

Arrival: Between 8:15 and 8:30 - We expect students to be dropped off between 8:15 and 8:30 in the morning. As a courtesy (with prior arrangement), Nancy will open our “Early Room” (Zim/Bobbi’s Room) at 8:00, and students may wait there until 8:15. Students arriving after 8:30 are considered late.

It is vital that your children are here by 8:30. Morning meeting starts at 8:30 frequently for certain events (like Arts and Explorations choices). If your child is late for meeting during a choices day, they miss the descriptions of the choices by the teachers, and lose their place in the queue (they don’t get to choose until the end). This isn’t to punish the student, but to keep the meeting running smoothly without repeating class descriptions.

It is important to note that the home center teachers will not be on duty until 8:15 - even if they are present in the building. Teachers sometimes come in before 8:15 specifically to accomplish tasks that cannot be accomplished with students present in the room. Please respect the schedule of our staff so they can be at their best during school hours.

Dismissal: 2:45 - We expect students to be picked up at 2:45. It is frequently upsetting to students, especially younger students, to be left at school late.

Students left at school late require that a staff member also stay late. Please don’t let this happen by respecting our schedule.

If someone other than you is picking up your child, written notes are best; phone calls are OK; children’s word is not enough.

Written permission is required if your child will be using the ACTR bus. Please speak with Nancy about the policies for using the bus.

Absences and Lateness

If your child will be absent or late (arriving after 8:30) you must notify us between 8:00 and 8:30. If you arrive late, check in with your child’s reading teacher and leave a note with the time of arrival on Nancy’s desk.

Missing school disrupts class work and the feeling of community. Vacation trips during school time and “days off’ for reasons other than sickness are frowned upon. Please don’t let the consequences of out-of-school activities, trips, or sports interfere with school or homework. We prefer a sleepy child to an absent or late child.

Please make medical and dental appointments for after school hours.

Your child will be considered truant if they have multiple unexcused absences and/or lateness.

Snow Days

We will cancel school if Addison Central Supervisory Union (includes Mary Hogan, and Middlebury Union) cancels school.

Bridge School never has delayed openings (even if Addison Central Supervisory Union does). We always start school at the normal time.

You can find out about cancellations here:

Radio:       101 FM, 106.7 FM, WSAD 1490 AM

Television: WPTZ (Channel 5)

Web:        www.bridgeschoolvermont.org,

               www.vpr.net

 

We understand that many of our students travel quite far, and that conditions in your area may be dramatically different than here in Middlebury. We understand that you may have to make a decision to stay home even if school is in session. Please just call us between 8:00 and 8:30 to let us know.

In-Service Days and Staff Meetings

In addition to our weekly two-hour staff meetings and our summer meetings, we have scheduled 3 full day in-services and one half-day (school in session until 12:00). See the calendar (back cover) for dates.

Reports/Conferences

A comprehensive student report will go home two or three times a year. The report includes all of the student’s Arts and Explorations choices, commentary from the teachers in all of the classes attended, descriptions of material that was covered, and much of the student’s actual work (artwork, writing, math, etc)

Bridge School has only one scheduled parent teacher conference in October. However, all of the teachers welcome scheduling a conference with you any time.

If you have any concerns, questions or praise, do not wait for scheduled conferences. Call or visit your home center teacher right away. They really want to hear from you!

Homework

Older students regularly have homework each weekday evening. Younger students have homework occasionally.

Readers are required to read for at least 15 minutes each evening. Older students should read up to 30 minutes, depending on the teacher and the reading program. This is in addition to reading at school and other homework.

It is helpful to have a regular time and place to work. It is also helpful to have a backpack that comes to school and goes home every day.

If there is any confusion or problems about homework and/or expectations surrounding it, please ask the assigning teacher.

Homework should not be a struggle between you and your child. If your child balks at doing homework, please bring the issue to the assigning teacher and/or the home center teacher.

Food

We have a fifteen-minute mid-morning snack starting at 10:25. Fifteen minutes is allocated for lunch beginning at 12:40. Children may also use some of the free time (12:10 — 12:40) to eat. Please be sure the amount of food you send is adequate.

Students may not use the kitchen appliances for heating or cooling of the food they bring to school. Please provide a small icepack in the lunchbox for items that need to be kept cool.

Let your child’s home center teacher know if there are any special concerns or allergies.

School Birthdays

Birthdays are very special at Bridge School — Students are honored with a special song during morning meeting. Additionally, the birthday student may bring birthday treats for their home center (in the form of  Finger Foods Please!)

Students that have actual birthdays that are not on school days will be asked to pick their school birthday.

Social Gatherings Outside of School

Birthday Parties, Sleepovers, Play Dates, and similar gatherings should be kept as discreet and private as possible. This means No invitations at school and no gift giving at school.

In consideration for other student’s feelings who may not be included, please mail invitations, and save gift giving for a more private time.

Labels

Please label Everything!! Labeled clothing, boots, skates, books and lunch boxes rarely get lost!

Remember that many other children may have the same pair of mittens, boots or jacket as your child. Even if your child never loses their gear, another child may take them by mistake.

Medication

All Medication should be given to Nancy to administer. This includes cough drops and homeopathic remedies.

We need written permission to give your child any medications, including Tylenol.

We are required to keep prescription medicine in the original properly labeled container. If you need an additional container, please ask your pharmacist.

Change of Clothes and Boots

Please be sure your child has a complete change of clothes at school every day. This Is not just for bathroom accidents, but also for really impressive mud puddle or pond accidents.

Please provide a pair of season appropriate boots for use during muddy and snowy recess.

Students in the younger home centers (Sharon’s and Kathy’s) are required to wear boots if they want to go outside during recess when mud or snow is present.

Students in the older home centers are allowed to go outside in sneakers if they have a back-up pair.

Sneakers/Gym

Every child needs a pair of sneakers, at school, every day, to wear in the gym and at their scheduled Bobbi day.

Parking Lot Clarification

In the morning students are playing on the playground so there Is NO PARKING beyond the cones on the kickball field. In the afternoons parking is allowed past the cones because there are no children on the playground.

Please be careful! Drive Slowly!!

Book Club

About six times a year your child will get a book order form. Please go over the form with your child. The club sometimes offers books that are not appropriate for your child or we would not recommend. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to Nancy or your home center teacher.

The due date is on the form. Money must accompany the order. Orders are to be given to Nancy. Checks may be made payable to Bridge School or the book club. If you have more than one child in your family, one check is fine.

Office Hours

Office hours are 8:00 to 8:40 and after 9:35. We don’t answer the phone during reading class.

Please Update Our Files

Address change, new phone number, emergency contact, any shots not recorded, etc.

Address

1469 Exchange Street, Middlebury, VT 05753

Asbestos Management

We have an asbestos management plan on file.

Sexual Harassment Policy

A copy of our sexual harassment policy is on file.

 

Special Events

Back to School Picnic

On the first Thursday of school we have an all school picnic. It’s an opportunity to meet other parents. Dick introduces the children and their families. We provide juice and dessert. You bring a blanket and your picnic supper. (The local pizza parlors do a lot of business that night!)

Halloween

This is a very celebrated holiday at Bridge School! The day starts out with a parade at morning meeting, so students (and parents) are encouraged to come in costumes - it doesn’t necessarily need to be the costume. Please be sure to send a change of clothes. We follow the regular schedule until 11:30. The students have an early recess while home center teachers prepare for a sit down lunch. Your home center teacher will ask your child to provide a part of the lunch. Be sure to send a snack.

After lunch and silent reading the teachers offer choices like oobleck, games, and wackiest witch. The children make their choices ahead of time.

Alumni Day

This is a day when the students who graduated the previous June visit school. They go to classes and meet with the present 6th grade class during lunch and silent reading to discuss Junior High.

There is also an evening in January when all Alumni are invited back for an evening. Favorite activities are looking at the photo albums and singing.

Holiday Show

After the Thanksgiving break, we start rehearsals for the Holiday Show. We rehearse during explorations and arts. Every child has a part in the show. There is always a matinee performance for photo taking and videotaping and for small children, on the same day as the evening performance. We ask everyone to bring a finger dessert to share in their home center. We also collect books and food donations for local groups.

Winter Week

The week before February vacation is designated for special activities. We have reading classes and then go to activities. If the weather cooperates, the older home centers go cross-country skiing one day. The younger home centers sing for Project Independence and Porter Nursing Home. Everyone goes swimming at VT Sun. We also have a guest artist working with the students.

Collar Day

This was an old Elizabethan custom on which Queen Elizabeth I directed her court to dress up and then she presented them with awards. We celebrate the day (usually in March) by getting dressed up and wearing family awards and medals. The staff gives an award of excellence to each child. The ceremonies are held at morning meeting. We request that parents stay for the entire time. It is disruptive to have people leave during the ceremonies.

Spring Term

The 3 or 4 weeks before April vacation are devoted to Spring Term. The staff chooses an area to study in depth at this time. The entire school participates in this project. We sometimes have a parent night to show projects, if the topic lends itself to that.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a terrible time for your child to miss school!

Hulbert Outdoor Center

In May the sixth grade goes to Hulbert in Fairlee, VT for 3 days. Two staff members go with them. This program builds group trust and strengthens cooperative work skills.

The Great Kindergarten Reading Day

Every spring the kindergarten does a reading performance for the whole school. Some may read from books, some may demonstrate reading projects such as “OO BOOKS”, and some may read the children’s names. We all look forward to this day with great excitement!

Spring Into the Arts

Every other year in May all the local schools are involved in art displays and performances at Middlebury College Center for the Arts. The entire school participates and attends.

Throughout the year the children create art and bring it home. During this event we need your help by choosing some artwork, and returning it the school for presentation. No glass framed work please.

Beach Day

Beach Day is held the last week of school. Everyone goes to Branbury Beach (Lake Dunmore). Home center teachers ask you to provide a part of the lunch. You also need to send a labeled towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, and $1.50 for the snack bar.

Graduation/Celebration

In June on the last Thursday of school, we have our graduation celebration. The sixth graders perform and are given their diplomas. They also present gifts to the school, which are displayed in the library. Everyone brings a finger dessert to share in home centers.

This is a whole school event—all grades participate!

Greeters

In the mornings we have a greeter to assist you and your children arriving at school.

After School Sports

Parents coach soccer and basketball for certain age groups. Some of these sports include games against other schools. We are mostly providing experience in playing the games. There is a fee charged and the money buys equipment for the sport, with the remainder going to the scholarship fund.

Skating

As soon as we can keep a rink, we have skating at recess and other free times. We have some skates that may be borrowed (they will need to be sharpened).

Help clearing the rink is appreciated! Please talk to Gerry.

Explorations and Arts Classes

Every two weeks students listen to a description of each of the choices and then choose a class. Not everyone gets their first choice, but we feel they are all good classes! Sometimes there are age restrictions for classes. Older Home Center teachers keep track of choices to insure diversity.

At Exploration time we teach science, social studies, Spanish and other foreign languages. The kindergarten is kept together as a group and rotated through the teachers. This choice is also open to students who were in kindergarten last year.

Arts choices include: arts & crafts, sports, music, dance, and theater.

Fund Raising

Raising money for the Scholarship Fund is a year long project. We request that everyone help raise the money that is awarded (unfortunately, before it is raised!). The major events are gift-wrap in the fall, a letter campaign in November, the raffle in February and the book fair in the spring.

Gift Wrap

We sell Sally Foster wrapping paper with 50% of the proceeds going to the school. It’s a high quality paper and a good price. We ask everyone to sell to their friends and families.

Letter

In the August mailing there is a form to give us names and addresses of friends and relatives who should receive the fund raising letter. The letter describes the experiences of attending Bridge School and is written by one of our sixth grade parents. This letter is then sent to your friends and relatives asking for donations to our scholarship fund. We also include the newsletter. Every donor receives a personal thank you and photo.

Raffle and Silent Auction

We sell 275 tickets at $50 each. The committee gets as many prizes as possible donated or purchased at cost to ensure the highest profit for scholarship. We welcome all donated prizes. Parents are to help gather prizes (see Valerie Smith-Hastings).

We ask each family to sell five tickets. This does not mean you need to buy them! We do want everyone to try to sell that many. This is our largest fundraiser and we need to sell all the tickets to make it work.

The prizes are awarded at an hors d’oeuvre/dessert buffet that also includes entertainment; it is absolutely worth the price of the ticket, which entitles 2 people to go to the buffet! Parents make the delicious food. There are sign up sheets posted on the doors for donating food. You do not have to be present to win a prize. However, you must bring your ticket stubs to be eligible for door prize drawings!

Book Fair

In the spring a committee arranges a book fair. A percentage of the proceeds go to the scholarship fund. We also collect book donations for a needy children’s organization. There is a bake sale during the morning and after school for which all families donate baked items to sell. Proceeds are added to the scholarship fund.

School Governance

Principals

Bridge School has four co-principals. They are the founders: Bobbi Loney, Gerry Loney, Dick Nessen, and Kathy Nessen. Each of them has specific administrative responsibilities. Parents may talk with a principal if they have questions or if they have been unable to resolve an issue with a home center teacher.

Administrative Associate

Our administrative Associate is Nancy Cyr. You should let both Nancy and your home center teacher know about any attendance and tardiness issues. Besides being the person at the desk, Nancy can answer most questions or advise whom you should talk to.

Home Center Teachers

There are five home center teachers; the three principals, Sharon Pinsonneault, and Diane Hare. Any question about your child should be brought to them.

Staff

The staff consists of the home center teachers, the administrative associate, and part-time teachers Zim Pickens and Bobbi Loney. They meet every Tuesday after school, as well as in-service days. They are responsible for all decisions relating to students, curriculum, and staffing.

Corporate Board

Bridge School is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. It is governed by a corporate board which consists of the four founders, which approves the actions of the advisory council.

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council consists of the four principals, the administrative associate and five to seven parents. They meet the second Thursday of each month. New members are invited by the sitting council and are encouraged to serve a minimum of two years. Decisions of the council are reached by consensus. There is a facilitator whose job is to hold the council’s agenda and facilitate its operation. There is a financial advisor who, with the staff, helps create the annual budget and who attempts to create financial structures and vehicles that best serve the school.

The advisory council is responsible for all aspects of the school that are not the responsibility of the staff. They are a sounding board and offer ideas and opinions. They are doing long-range planning for the future of the school. The council brings suggestions, requests and issues raised by parents and community members.

The council’s major role is with the financial life of the school. They recommend the budget and exercise monthly oversight. The council helps decide how much scholarship assistance the school can award and helps set fund raising goals.

The council helps establish priorities for capital improvements and reviews plans for completing them. They explore ways to fund raise for scholarships and capital needs and help organize those efforts. They also review enrollment goals and help achieve them.

Notes From The Staff

Math Helpers

The math program can use help at folder and games times (9:35 - 10:15 and 10:40 - 11:25) every day. There seems to be a math “phobia” which stops people from volunteering! You do not have to be a math genius to help out! (A little arithmetic knowledge is essential, however.) It is especially helpful to have volunteers ‘play’ the games with students. Please consider helping at these times.

Writing Helpers

Sharon and Zim would love to find a volunteer to take dictation from the kindergarteners Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:00-11:20. It’s fun and surprising!

Gerry would like someone to help with corrections for Writing II on Thursdays, 10:40-11:20.

Kim Moyer, Becky Trombley and J'Amy Allen

Kim, Becky and J'Amy are volunteer members of the staff. They teach classes with teacher direction so that each teacher may have one time off a week to do preparation or record keeping. In addition they also substitute. This is a wonderful gift to the staff and a valuable contribution to Bridge School. Thanks so much, Kim, Becky and J'Amy!

Missing Library Books!!

Please check your child’s room and around your house for our library books. We are missing some that we know about and others we don’t. Some of these books were not checked out so we don’t have any record of where they are! Return any books, no questions asked, so we don’t have to keep buying replacements!

Going home arrangements

There is some confusion about this rule. We do not allow students to call home to make arrangements to go with another student. We prefer that all arrangements be made at home the night before.

“Gradedness”

We are a mixed-age school. The only actual grades we have are kindergarten and sixth. One big advantage of this is that students may make the choice to stay an extra year without “repeating a grade”. We try to keep from using grades as a means of grouping, in sports, e.g., and use age or ability instead.

This means that there is no “fifth grade” until the end of the year, when everyone has decided whether they will be graduating the following year. For this reason, we don’t have any “fifth grade” activities, and we would appreciate it if parents didn’t organize any as well.