Bridge Traditions
Bridge School has a long history of annual traditions.
On the first day of school, the Bridge PTA holds its annual Welcome Breakfast that enables parents to meet the principal, socialize, and learn about volunteer activities for the upcoming year. This is the time to join the PTA and to sign up to be Room Parents or to volunteer on any of the PTA’s active committees.
Each September, Bridge School hosts a Back to School Night. This annual event enables parents to meet their children’s teachers, to tour the classrooms, and to learn about curriculum.
Teacher Appreciation Breakfasts are held several times a year to honor our incredible and devoted staff. Room Parents and parent volunteers coordinate set-up and food delivery and preparation.
In June, Bridge School holds a fun-filled Field Day. The Fifth-graders organize the activities and kindergarteners through fourth-graders enjoy fun and games in the field such as balloon toss, three-legged races, and tug-o-war.
Arts Traditions
Bridge School offers a rich assortment of arts activities.
ACT (Arts Created Together) is a special program run by parent volunteers to schedule music,dance,storytelling, poetry and drama events both school-wide and a teach grade level, specifically geared toward curriculum.
The Bridge Library is an active part of the school. Parents volunteer in the library or participate in the annual winter Book Fair that raises money for Bridge’s library. Children have the opportunity to buy books when their class visits the Fair in the library, or after school hours with their parents.
Community Traditions
Each Spring Bridge holds a Community Event called the Spring Fling Social. It is a fun evening designed by the PTA for all families to enjoy entertainment and food at the school in a relaxed and festive setting.
The Community Service Committee is a parent volunteer group that helps students understand the spirit of volunteerism. Children can volunteer for projects such as stocking shelves at a food pantry, giving holiday gifts to kids in need, and leaf raking for senior citizens.
Each Halloween,Bridge School parent volunteers promote and organize the collection of spare change for Bridge School’s contribution to UNICEF, which supports kids in need around the world.
We Care Committee was developed in 2009 by PTA parents to help families or students that are dealing with a crisis. The committee organizes meals and support to those Bridge families in need.
The annual Bridge Spiritwear Fundraiser enables Bridge families to order Bridge School logo clothing to promote school spirit and to raise funds for PTA activities.
Curriculum Enrichment Traditions
Family Math Nights are organized by grade level and enable adult and child teams to learn challenging and fun math games and activities.
Family Literacy Night is held to provide early elementary and upper elementary students and their parents literacy related enrichment activities to make reading and writing enjoyable and entertaining.
Science Night is an annual evening of hands-on science experimentation and exploration.
International Festival is a special evening in March, which showcases the cuisine, art and culture of different countries represented by our Bridge School Community. In2010, participants from over twenty different countries hosted tables or performed on stage.
In fall, winter and spring, a team of Bridge parent volunteers runs the Big Backyard Program,an outdoor science program that enables small groups of children to explore the science and nature right in the fields, wetlands, and forest surrounding Bridge School.
Bridge has a long history of participating in the METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity)program,which began in 1966. Throughout the school year, families in Lexington host METCO students one Thursday afternoon a month.
Environmental Awareness
Bridge has developed a proactive and successful Eco-Bridge Committee to help students and their parents promote ways to reduce waste,save energy, money and the environment during school hours and beyond.
The Gardening Committee maintains Bridge’s three gardens (butterfly, peace and colonial) located on the school grounds.
Fifth Grade Activities
The fifth grade enjoys many special traditions in their preparation to enter middle school. Activities include an overnight camping trip, leading Field Day, an end-of year Choral concert and an Evening Social, and a Graduation Ceremony.
Communication
The Bridge PTA and faculty communicates with parents using several different formats.
The Bridge Announcement Email List Serve keeps families at Bridge up-to-date with pertinent information.
The Bridge to Home Newsletter is a monthly publication of timely events, school information and memos from the principal.
The School Directory is produced and distributed to PTA members in October.
