2018-11-30-BRIDGE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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wrote a book about student achievement and is a resource to those looking for more information on this topic. Meg added that if parents are adamant about more homework,teachers can direct them to websites where students can practice their skills. One parent noted that one of the downsides of not having consistent homework assignments is that parents don't know how their kids are doing at school. Meg explained that Bridge teachers are responding to this by expanding their newsletters and websites, making them more robust and including details about what students are learning. Ms. Arthur and Ms.Watkins are two excellent examples of this move to increased parental communication. Parents also can log onto their child's Google drive account to see their writing, and math assessments are now coming home for parental review (except kindergarten which does not have paper-based math assessments). A parent asked: How can this information about homework at Bridge be shared with our community? Can the PTA host a speaker on this topic, perhaps in conjunction with another school, or now district-wide talk? Meg will reach out to the superintendent's office to see if there is interest in hosting a talk. Or, could this topic be a session during Bridge Learns? That's a possibility, said Meg. Bridge leadership is currently discussing the possibility of hosting the next Bridge Learns during the 2019-2020 school year. Shawn Wood made the point that parents naturally expose their children to travel, music, theatre, etc., and these activities—what families do together—are so much more valuable than any worksheet. Meg agreed, adding how important it is for kids to be with their families and to have free time to play. SBC members discussed how there are different expectations of homework and class participation from students who come to Bridge from other cultures. Deirdre Schadler spoke about efforts to engage community groups, including IAL, KoLEX, CARL, and others, in a conversation about school experiences in their home countries (focusing on parent involvement, discipline, school environment, homework, etc.) so as to make those students feel comfortable here in Lexington.A summary of this work will be presented to the staff in April. One parent referenced a packet of activities that she had received that helped engage children in curriculum-related efforts. Meg said she can include such a resource in her newsletter. In other news, Meg shared she was recently notified that Bridge will be getting a new playground in the summer of 2019.This playground,which will cost close to a $300,000, is being driven by the district in order to comply with the ADA. The new playground will include new flooring and safer structures. The swings,web climbing structure, and Quinn- inspiration elements are staying. Pictures of the playground are hanging outside of Meg's office and were sent out in Meg's recent newsletter. The feedback from the students has been very positive. 2