Bridge Point of View

September 22, 2017

Bridge Point Elementary

MRS. MEEK'S WEEKLY MESSAGE

Dear BPE Families,

This Tuesday, September 26 will be our first Early Release Day of the school year. Students will be released from school two hours early (12:50 pm) and lunch will be served before they leave. We would also like to remind you that September 26 is a No Homework Night.

In the past, these days have been a late starts. The district has found that beginning the school day late is more disruptive to student routines so we are continuing this year with early release instead. These Early Release Days give teachers the gift of time. We realize this change in dismissal time can be an inconvenience to parents and want you to know we are truly appreciative of your flexibility. With an extra two hours in our day without students, staff get a chance to collaborate and plan with their colleagues.

The confusing part about Early Release Days is that five days out of the school year we also have Half Days. Half Days occur during Parent Teacher Conferences in October, the last day of the fall semester, and the last day of the spring semester. School will be released on Half Days three hours early at 11:50 and lunch will NOT be served.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend,

Heather Meek

BPE NEWS

SEL Highlights Relationship Skills

Trustees ask voters to consider Penny Swap & Drop

Approval will lower District's total tax rate by 1.25 cents and increase amount of local tax revenue that stays in the community

Counselor's Corner

This week we had nearly 70 fourth and fifth graders apply to serve as Student Ambassadors on our No Place for Hate Student Council. We were blown away by the enormous interest of students in helping BPE further our mission of becoming a No Place for Hate campus. As part of the application process, students were tasked with explaining why they would like to serve on the NPFH Student Council and also presenting ideas they have for how to make BPE a more kind, respectful and accepting school. A committee of administrators, counselors and fourth and fifth grade teachers are in the process of going through all of the applications to select eight fourth grade students and ten fifth grade students to be a part of our No Place for Hate Student Council. With so many impressive applicants, it is a truly challenging process for us! We look forward to announcing our selections next week.

Read more about the September Counselor SEL Lessons on the Counselor Weebly.

The Shelf Life: Library News

Over the past two weeks, Ms. Ricter collaborated with Mrs. Meek to introduce the first book for the Principal's Book Club. Ms. Ricter read The Invisible Boy to all grade levels during library and then taught students how to use the Flipgrid app to share their thoughts. This app allows students to post a short video response to a grid, which is then shared with Mrs. Meek.

For directions on how to add a video to Flipgrid for the Principal's Book Club, watch the screencast video that Ms. Ricter created. If you are using a computer rather than an iPad, go to the Flipgrid website and enter grid code f95c46 instead of using a QR code. Then follow the steps in the screencast.

Also a quick reminder: the Unusual Reading Contest and Libraries of Love Book Drive end next Friday, September 29th.