Teams 1 and 5 Begin Big / Little Buddies Program
This week saw teams 1 and 5 joining together in a new partnership. Big Buddies will be tutoring their little buddies in the classroom once a week. Our kickoff activity was an icebreaker. Buddies drew chalk outlines of each other. As they worked together to decorate their pictures, they had a chance to talk, and get acquainted. It was a chance for the older and younger students to get to know each other a little better and forge a bond. They will also continue to get together as a group once per month and the The Big / Little Buddies Program will continue throughout the the 2009 / 2010 school year. As you can see by the pictures below, everyone seemed to be having a very enjoyable time!
Circle
Outlines
Everyone Draw!
BCA Photograpy Students Help With Picture Day
Several BCA photography students helped with the recent BCA Fall Picture Day. Ellis Studios is the official BCA school photography studio, and owner Terry Hanning and assistant photographer Jill were on hand for the morning’s activities.
The photography students arrived early and helped with setting up and adjusting the various pieces of photographic equipment. Once everything was in place, Terry and Jill then instructed the students on some finer points of the photography business and portrait photography. The students were given the opportunity to take a few “test shots” of each other.
Once picture time arrived, the students acted as “runners”, escorting the classes to the gym and helping out with “crowd control”. Some of the photography students were able to take a few of the student photographs! With the students’ help, everything ran very smoothly and everything was finished by noon. Terry and Jill were quick to compliment the BCA students and were very appreciative of their help.
This is the first year BCA has worked with Ellis Studios. Mr. Hanning has volunteered several days over the upcoming school year to work with the BCA Photography Program. He will be instructing students on various technical aspects of photography and the photography business. We are very pleased to be working with Ellis Studios and appreciate everything they are doing for the students.
Learning Some Basics
Just Look Through Here
All Ready To Go!
BCA Biology Students Head to Heidelberg for Lab
Bridges Community Academy Chemistry and Biology students from Team 4 had their first Lab experience at Heidelberg University with Dr. Bob Murray on Wednesday September 23, 2009. It was an engaging and exciting experience for students and teachers. Students were able to participate in a college freshman level Biology lab on the Heidelberg University Campus. Students are anxiously awaiting the future labs in which they will study enzymes and a fetal pig dissection. Keep tuned for more exciting pictures and information as our semester at Heidelberg Lab unfolds!
Biology Lab
Microscopes
Questions, Questions
Do Your Work!
Parent Communication Matters at BCA!
Last week at the BCA Board meeting, “Wonderful News Happening at BCA” was presented by Director Mrs. Kaufman. This short update on all the wonderful things happening at BCA always opens the beginning of each monthly meeting. The following email was written to staff from a parent expressing that BCA is providing ways for their individual child to reach their full potential!
I just want to let you know how well things are going for my child already this year. She has said several times already that she loves school. That is so wonderful. She says she loves every subject.
Once she said, “It’s challenging, but that’s how I like it.” Today she said, “You don’t know how great it is to feel like I’m good at math now.” She used to think she wasn’t any good at math so this is a real gift to her.
I know you all work very hard and probably see all the things you wish could be even better than they are. So I want you to know that you have some extremely satisfied customers and that our family is among them!
Thanks so much.
One of the BCA goals embedded in our mission is communication between parents and school. BCA welcomes all communication and it is really nice to hear “complementary comments” too! We are honored to serve children and families. This communication enlightens our service. Everyone should feel free to share more letters or stories of encouragement on the forum!
(Names will always be kept confidential.)
The Fireman Come for a Visit! Fire Safety for Team 1.
On Friday, September 11, 2009, the students from Team 1 had an exciting visit from the Sycamore Volunteer Fire Department! Fireman Donn and Fireman D were on hand to explain some very important information. The students learned about fire safety, and what they should do in a real fire. They were all shown how to stop, drop and “rock”. The firemen also explained that even though they wear a lot of specialized equipment, children should not be afraid of them and should never hide from a fireman. The firemen also wanted everyone to know how important it is for everyone to have a fire evacuation plan for your house and you should practice using it with your family.
Afterward, the students were given a very special and exciting ride on the fire truck! Thanks again fireman Donn and fireman D and to the entire Sycamore Volunteer Fire Department!
Mrs. Schimmoeller, Mrs. Santangelo, Grandma Burks
Opening Parent Meeting Success
WOW, what a commitment to our mission and vision we have as a community at BCA!
Congratulations to the over 110 families that were present at the Opening Parent Meetings this past week. 79% of our community were present and another 15 families had contact with their teams making arrangements to obtain the information from these very important meetings. It was a pleasure for the administration and staff to introduce our new families and to share the exciting changes toward our committment of EXCELLENCE with everyone!
The Governing Authority of BCA and the Expected Outcomes Committee worked together to develop a Contract of Excellence for both parents and students of BCA. The following letter of explanation was given to every family in attendance and will be shared with any family unable to attend within the next week:
We are excited you have chosen to join us as we strive for academic and personal excellence. Students completing our curriculum will be well prepared to pursue higher education and become contributing, positive members of the community at large. Students and parents joining our community aspire to identify and develop each student’s own individual strengths essential to becoming a lifelong learner. Therefore, curriculum is individualized. BCA firmly embraces the philosophy that parents and BCA are PARTNERS in Education. We offer the following contracts between student, school and parent(s) to ensure the success of this partnership for our students.
The 2009-2010 Governing Authority of Bridges Community Academy:
- Rob Ashworth-President
- Donn Pahl-Vice-President
- Mary Rizza
- Eric Basinger
- Karen Kline
- Melissa Lyon
- Gary Hauter
- Bob Murray
- Mary Jo Murray
The Administration of Bridges Community Academy:
- Dona Kaufman-Director
- Judy Back-Director of Academics
100% returned contracts will be expected and valued!!
Congratulations to the following families. Your child’s name was drawn from those in attendance to win 1 free lunch coupon from the BCA community. Just mark on your lunch form that you received notice of this coupon. Names will be with Anetta Otte, lunch room director.
- Team 1- Mollie Bryant, Eric Schmidutz, James Vanderhoff, Isaiah Wells
- Team 2-Peter Maier, Ben Rozzell
- Team 3-Anna Whitmer, Ryon Forman
- Team 4-Raelynn Navarro, Faith Breaux, Jacob Panuto
- Team 5-Sierra Lanning, Shayne Stanforth, Kyle Zahn
BCA Improves to Effective Rating on State Report Card
Congratulations on Improving to an Effective Rating
It is one of our core beliefs that parents are our “partners” in education. By “bridging” together we can truly accomplish our mission and vision and promote the philosophy of Bridges Community Academy. With our team approach we are able to see how students, parents, staff and community members, will be working together to build a future of opportunity for the students of Bridges Community Academy.
This has obviously worked and we are proud to announce that BCA has improved on the Ohio Report Card and has again regained the rating of EFFECTIVE. Students come to us from 7 different counties and 16 different school districts. Each year our population has students come to us without consistency in their learning. BCA challenges each of these students to reach their full potential. Within a very short period of time much is expected and we continue to strive to make it happen.
As mentioned above, BCA is always implementing planning for improvement. Change is always challenging but we believe it is essential in order to allow BCA to continue to succeed. The BCA Governing Board worked on restructuring with input from staff, students and parents so that they could continue forming policies to be implemented for more improvement during the 2009-10 school year. This process in Ohio is now called OIP and continual gains in achievement will be at the top of our list!
You can read the entire Bridges Community Academy 2008 – 2009 School Year Report Card
Welcome Back!
Welcome Back!
On August 26, 2009 we welcomed back over 120 returning students for our sixth year at Bridges Community Academy. We also welcomed over 40 new students who have joined us. All together, 170 unique and inquisitive students entered our hallways. It was an exciting first day. A full school assembly took place at 9:00 am this morning and together, staff and students shared the character building initiatives for the new school year: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, caring, fairness and citizenship. These initiatives were displayed throughout the school to remind all of BCA to “live it”!
Don’t forget to pack lunches on Aug 26th, 27th and 28th!
Students will need to pack their lunches on Wednesday Aug. 26th, Thursday Aug. 27th and Friday Aug. 28. There will be no items available for purchase those days.
Lunch will be available for students beginning Monday, August 31st.
Lunch menus will be given to students on the first day of school.
Welcome Back
Welcome to the 2009 – 2010 school year at BCA! Students will have 2 work at home days, Aug 24 & 25 to start the year. The first day students should report onsite to BCA will be Wednesday Aug 26. Students should be receiving information packets in the mail soon that will explain the assignments for the work at home days.
See everyone soon!