Great things are done by a series of small things brought together – Vincent Van Gogh

As the school year comes to an end, we want to convey our great gratitude to our Bridlewood families. This year had so many challenges, and each step of the way you worked with us so that we were able to continue teaching and learning with students. The positivity with which you supported through quarantining, protocols, and online learning is greatly appreciated.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank all of our Bridlewood School staff for their incredible work this year.  This is a group of people who are passionate about their work in service of students. I am inspired daily by their care, thoughtfulness, expertise and commitment.​

Bridlewood School looks forward to beginning our work anew in September with you. Information about school start- up will be sent out to families in August. At this time, we are not certain what protocols and procedures may be in place and we look forward to direction from AHS and the Calgary Board of Education.

Wishing you a fun-filled and safe summer break!

Erin, Joanne and the Bridlewood School Staff

​Dear Bridlewood families,

Welcome to our new families and welcome back to those returning. We had a wonderful first week of learning, meeting new friends and exploring possibilities for the year ahead. As a staff, we invite you to continue to work with us in our learning community as we continue to provide our students with quality learning. We are excited about the new year and the learning possibilities that will unfold.

In early July, our public art project was completed. This work is now displayed on the utility boxes (Bridleridge Way and 162 St.; James McKevitt Blvc. and Bridlewood Rd.). The art work was inspired by Bridlewood School's big idea last year, ​"What Do You Do with a Chance?" based on the book by Kobi Yamata. Our artist in residence, in collaboration with teachers, used the guiding picture book's art techniques and media as starting places for the work. Students worked collaboratively to depict ideas, using colour and illustration, to create messages about taking a chance. Many thanks to the Bridlewood Fundraising Society for providng the funding for this project as well as to artist Sharon Fortowsky for her vision and her work with our students. We are excited about our new big idea for the year, "How Can We Use Our Voice to Change the World?" We will be using Peter Reynold's new book, "Say Something" as our guiding text.

Bridlewood School is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our students. Throughout the year, staff and students practice safety plans and routines, which include fire drills and lockdown drills. On Tuesday, September 10th, all school doors, including the office doors, will be locked. In alignment with other CBE schools, a security camera and buzzer have been installed at the front of the school. People accessing the school through the front office will be required to use a buzzer to gain access to the school. The buzzer is located on the left side of the main entrance. Once you have hit the buzzer, please listen for the clicking sound which will mean that the office has unlocked the door. We thank you for your patience as we add this new safety routine to Bridlewood School

We are now beginning our first full week of school with anticipation and excitement. We look forward to working with you this year on behalf of our students.

Sincerely,

Erin

​​So, what do you do with a chance? You take it. . . . because it might be the start of something incredible. - Kobi Yamata, "What Do You Do with a Chance?"

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the school year comes to a close, we have the opportunity to reflect on the year while also planning for the year ahead. This year, Bridlewood School was guided by an overarching question, "What Do You Do with a Chance?" based on the book by Kobi Yamata. This big question served as an inspiration and provocation to teachers as they planned engaging activities for their students as they infused this idea within their tasks. For example: How do you take a chance as a learner? As a friend? Why is it important to take a chance? Taking a chance doesn't always mean taking big chances, but rather it is the day-to-day small chances that are important. These are the choices that lead to student resiliency and positive success.

This work was extended through an artistic lens when our artist-in residence, Sharon Fortowsky, began her work with staff and students beginning in February. Through three different iterations of guided exploration, students learned about watercolor techniques and materials. They used these to represent important ideas about 'taking a chance' that surfaced to them as classes as they had worked throughout the year. The ideas of being resilient and courageous are represented on the final watercolor and pencil work, which was created collaboratively between classes. Student work is now complete, and Sharon is piecing together the art (created using the color and texture theme of the book's illustrations). This art will be taken to a printer to make high-quality digital wraps. The final artwork will be displayed on two utility boxes in our community as public art and should be completed soon. We will be sure to provide you with updates as they become available.

Thank you to the parents and guardians who were able to attend the School Council meeting in June. At this meeting, we shared some of our plans for Bridlewood School for the 2019-2020 year, based on the information that we presently have. For the upcoming year, our school population is projected to decline as our community changes and ages. In addition to declining enrollment, we are experiencing a decrease in overall per student funding. As a result, we have had to decrease teaching positions. We have also made some decisions about how best to support all of our learners, knowing that equity for all of our students is of utmost importance.

There are many factors to consider when making these decisions. One important factor is class size. In working with the number of students in each grade with the available teaching staff for classroom positions, it became clear that the only way to sustain straight grades in the school was to have large class sizes in division 2 (grades 4,5 and 6). To preserve smaller class sizes across the school, it was decided to create multi-age groupings with grades 2/3 and 4/5. Kindergarten, grades 1 and 6 will remain as straight grades.

Multi-age groupings differ from a traditional split-grade configuration. When walking into a mult-age classroom, it would resemble what you would see in a straight grade classroom. That is, students are being supported in their learning in the ways that are needed, they are working around the room in flexible groups, working through engaging tasks. In Alberta we have a spiral curriculum--concepts are revisited and complexities are added as students move up in grades. That means that in a multi-age classroom teachers are able to teach a concept to students and then change the assignment and expectations depending upon their grade assignment. Students are assessed on grade level expectations.

As a staff, we invite you to continue to work with us in our learning community as we continue to provide our students with quality learning. We are excited about the new year and the possibilities that will unfold.

Wishing you a happy and safe summer break,

Erin

​ Dear Families,

Happy New Year! Our return has been filled with the joys of seeing friends, setting new learning goals, learning new concepts, and weather changes, both enjoyable and challenging. We are looking forward to the possibilities that a new year brings to our learning at school.

Kindergarten registration began on January 14th and is on-going. It has been a great pleasure to meet excited new students and parents during our kindergarten intake meetings! We are at the beginning stages of planning for the 2019-2020 school year. If you have friends, family, or neighbours who are new to the community or have not yet registered, please encourage them to do so. In addition, if you know you will not be attending Bridlewood School next year, please be sure to let us know. Knowing as much information as we can in advance makes the planning process easier.

As we have settled back in since the winter break, we are continuing to explore the Alberta Program of Studies through our school query, "What Do You Do with a Chance?" You will have recently received a curriculum newsletter from your child/children's teachers outlining learning from January to March. Report cards were distributed to students in early January. Our next formal, face-to-face communication regarding student progress will be March 21 and 22 during student-led conferences. However, should you have questions, concerns or want to share information regarding your child's learning, please feel free to contact your child's teacher.

We are looking forward to beginning our work with our artist-in-residence, Sharon Fortowsky. Sharon will be facilitating and guiding teachers and students to create art that will decorate several utility boxes in the community of Bridlewood, through the City of Calgary's Utility Box Public Art Program. Sharon will begin her work with us this month and will continue into June. She will be exploring our school's big idea with each class and grade group to create a visual representation of an aspect of their work this year. The finished works will be put together in a digitalized format so that wraps can be created to apply to the utility boxes. Many, many thanks to the Bridlewood School Fundraising Society for providing the funds for this unique artist-in-residence experience for our students!

Sincerely,

Erin

​Dear Families,

It was wonderful to connect with families during our conferences, to listen and learn about student progress as part of our on-going communication. If you were unable to attend our conferences on December 6th and 7th you are invited to contact your child's teacher to arrange an alternative meeting time.

Report cards are the formal way we communicate about student progress. In the report card, student achievement is described using report card stems that indicate key areas of learning from the Alberta Programs of Study. Achievement is based on a body of evidence that includes conversations, observations and artifacts of learning and represent what a student knows, and can do at a certain point in time. Our report cards will be going home on January 11, 2019. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's progress, please contact your chld's teacher to discuss.

Many thanks to the parents who coordinated and provided the Bridlewood staff a beautiful luncheon on Thursday, December 6 after early dismissal. Your generosity, thoughtfulness and wonderful cooking and baking was so appreciated by all.

Our Scholastic Book Fair was once again a success! Thank you for your support of ths event by volunteering, dropping by to browse or purchasing some great books. Proceeds from the fair will be used towards purchases for our Learning Commons.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Bridlewood families a warm and restful winter break.

Sincerely,

Erin Tourigny