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Bridge Elementary School Weekly Newsletter
November 19, 2008
We, at Bridge, feel so lucky to have the Lexington Education Foundation
helping us to move forward on plans designed to enhance the children’s
educational experience. Without their support, most of our new, and
different, ideas would have no chance of being realized since they fall
outside the scope of the school’s operating budget.
This year several grants were awarded to teachers in our school. The
entire faculty put forth a proposal to install an interactive whiteboard
in the library. Included in the proposal are an integrated
board/projector, sound system, a student response system, an 'airliner',
and a document camera. The goal of the project is to increase student
engagement and interaction through the use of these technological
advances. I know when we have it up and running we’ll be arranging a
time to show the community how it enhances teaching and learning.
Our physical education teacher, Mr. Bosbach, was granted the funds to
purchase and install a traverse climbing wall to help students develop
strength, coordination, and motor planning skills.
Mrs. Gates (our resident green thumb) received a grant to add a Native
American garden, called a "Three Sisters Garden" to our already existing
butterfly and colonial gardens. These gardens are used in our social
studies and science programs.
Mrs. Colella and fifth-grade teachers were granted funds to work over
the summer on intervention plans for this year. They developed lessons
plans for differentiating instruction based upon assessment data.
Mrs. Side, along with the other music teachers from the district, was
granted the funds to develop and record music and lyrics for use by
classrooms teachers to reinforce math and literacy skills.
Our faculty is also involved in other funded projects. The entire
elementary faculty is involved in an LEF-funded 3-day training on the
use of formative assessments with students. These are assessments that
are used to inform a teacher’s instruction and not used for grading
purposes. These usually are designed to be simple and fast and focused
on the most current instruction. Teachers use the results to ask
themselves the questions, "Did the students learn what I planned for
them to learn? And if not, what do I need to do next?" The first
training was this past Thursday afternoon, with another training in
January and the last in March. Another grant-funded project to which our
teachers will have access is a speaker who will address executive
function disorders or difficulties. The teachers will learn more about
the executive functions and how they affect academic success. In
addition, our students will profit from the grant awarded to Mrs.
Ludwig, the district’s Science Head of Department. One of our parents,
Wendy Ernst, is working with Mrs. Ludwig to evaluate, reformat, and
update the K-4 Big Back Yard nature walks. In addition, all of our third
graders will be treated to a demonstration of instruments by members of
the Lexington Symphony Orchestra and later a concert thanks to the work
of Mr. Pavasaris, Head of the Fine Arts Department, and funded by the
LEF.
As you can see, we are indeed fortunate to have such a dedicated group
of people doing the work of the LEF and the support of the Lexington
community. Thank you.
Dr. Jade Reitman
Principal |