HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-13-BRIDGE-min BRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL-BASED SITE COUNCIL
DECEMBER 2019 MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED JANUARY 17, 2020
Attendance: Margaret Colella, Erin Cerat, Kristen Gray, Kimberly Hensle Lowrance, Zeba
McGibbon, Dierdre Schadler, Melanie Tanionos, and Brienne Thibodeau.
The Bridge Elementary School School-Based Site Council (SBC) held its monthly meeting on
Friday, December 13, 2019 at Bridge Elementary School.
Meg Colella opened the meeting at 8:12 AM and provided an update about redistricting. She
explained that a transition team has been put together, led by Anna Monaco,the former
principal of Clarke Middle School. The team includes school principals and meets for the
first time next week. The group has already been talking about transition activities for
students and families, including matching families who are being redistricted with
supports, hosting family coffees and playground dates, and more. The goal is make families
feel welcome,to support families who are moving schools, and to implement consistent
supports in each school to ensure equity. By March,the administration will have plan for
staffing changes related to redistricting.
A parent asked about introducing families now,rather than waiting until the spring. Meg
will pass the query along, and also encouraged parents to reach out directly to her and/or
to Anna Monaco with other questions.
She added that Central Office is currently working on a plan to contact to affected families.
The School Committee, at their next meeting, is addressing some outstanding questions,
including transportation and grandfathering.
Meg will update Bridge teachers about who is being moved, so they are aware of what's
happening to their students.Also the counseling team across the district will be called upon
to help. The transition team will also prepare advice for parents about how to talk about
these changes with their kids.
Brienne Thibodeau next spoke about flexible seating in the classroom, a strategy she's
brought with her to Bridge. Her goal with flexible seating is to help her students
understand how to make choices about what learning style works best for them. For
example, in her classroom,there are no nametags on desks so kids can sit wherever they
want.Additionally, floor seats with clipboards are available, as are low tables on the floor,
options to stand and work at the bookshelves, etc. This approach fosters collaboration
between students and helps students feel empowered. Providing children with choices also
encourages them to work on their conflict resolution skills (i.e., sorting out what to do
when two kids want the same spot) and offers a way to manage high-energy leaners (i.e.,
letting them move about).
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Most students in Brienne's class chose to lie on the floor and work,which has the added
benefit of building fine motor skills. Meg noted that there is flexible seating in other Bridge
classrooms,but it's not as extensive as what Brienne has implemented.
Deirdre Schadler spoke next about Building Bridges Across Cultures.Yesterday, Fiske staff
joined Bridge staff for a Building Bridges Across Cultures workshop. Three speakers—two
LPS parents and an educator from Sudbury—were featured. They discussed what school is
like in Israel and Brazil and what school is like for Muslim students. This type of learning
helps staff understand student and family experiences and expectations.
One important takeaway was this: a child's misbehavior may not be a misbehavior; it may
be a cultural difference. This is one of my reasons why educators need to know their
students and families.
One of the speakers recommended Cultural Maps, a business book that gives insight into
the way different cultures understand and communication information.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 AM.
For additional information, contact Meg Colella, Principal and Co-Chair
(mcolella(@lexingtonma.org), or Kimberly Hensle Lowrance, Parent Representative and Co-
Chair (khensle(@gmail.com); or visit https://www.lexingtonma.org/bridge-
elementary_/about/site-council/.
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