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Architecture & Museum Trip

Bridges Middle School students experienced a day of architecture and museums Dec 2. Students were welcomed at First Congregational Church on Commonwealth Avenue, a fine example of gothic revivial architecture. They were introduced to some of the structural elements that make First Church an important historical site in Los Angeles, including the 550 tons of steel reinforcement in the foundation, a marvel when the building was completed in 1934. Following the architectural tour, world renowned organist for First Church, C. Wayne Foster, led the students on an  "organ crawl," demonstrating what the world's largest pipe organ sounds like. Students sat spellbound in the choir section where they could observe the organ's console. The reverberating sounds of Beethoven's Ode to Joy literally rocked them in their seats. Following a picnic on linen clothed tables in the First Church garden, students split into groups for the afternoon museum tours.

Some of the students proceeded to the Autry Museum for a special tour of  Native American basketry and a chance to explore the hands-on exhibitions that make the Autry a museum goers delight. Fourteen  other students traveled to USC for a special tour arranged by eight-grader Brad Sonnenberg's father, Glenn Sonnenberg, who serves as President of USC's Friends of the Library.  Librarians took students down backstairs  that felt like a secret passage into the Doheny Library stacks. Students then viewed the special exhibit entitled From Zero to Infinity by the contemporary artist Raphael who uses Polaroid film, metal overlay, photoshopping techniques and a printing press to produce works that bring science into conversation with philosophy and religion. One highlight of the day was the hour students spent in the USC Special Collections Library. Students were given white cotton gloves to wear as they carefully examined first editions of Mark Twain's Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Herman Melville's Moby Dick, a 13th century vellum manuscript and many others. The tour concluded in the fascinating Hancock Museum where students completed a treasure hunt and received gift chocolates from the librarians.

Curtain Up!

The high school drama group dazzled family, friends and fellow students with two Neil Simon productions. Half of the class perfomed "The Odd Couple"  November 14th and 5th with the other half performing "Lost In Yonkers" November 21st and 22nd. Also dazzling was the high school rock bands' December 6 performance at Room 5 in Hollywood that included cover songs, a lot of orginal music and an appearance by Bridges grad Jake Fiskin who has been performing at various venues around L.A.

Veterans Day Celebration

Bridges Middle School welcomed several distinguished guests to our Veteran's Day celebration on November 11. Brandon Davis (8th grade) who welcomed guests also set up a table of  mementos from his own family who have served in the armed forces through the generations. Sasha Presberger (6th grade) invited his cousin, Howie Horowitz, who served in Vietnam.  Marti Colglazier, M.S. administrator and 5th-6th math teacher, invited two of her acquaintances, Vern Seigner who served in WWII and Edward Delap who served as a medic in Vietnam. A highlight was a viewing of the film Jump Day, a documentary which Tom Davies (Frank Davies' dad, grade 7) made to honor his own father whose plane was shot down in WWII and who was interned at a prisoner of war until the camp was liberated by General George Patton at war's end. Students sat raptly attentive as these men shared their stories and love of country.

5th Graders Visit UCLA

The 5th grade students toured UCLA's Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences. Since its inception in 1940, this vital UCLA lab has been at the forefront of
atmospheric research and education.  Students were introduced to the instrumentation and methods used to study a wide variety of problems, including climate change, greenhouse warming, air pollution, the ozone layer, attempts to control or modify weather phenomena, the demand for reliable long-range weather forecasts on both local and global scales, and the expanding frontiers of space science. 
Students learned that diverse scientific fields are available for study, including Dynamic and
Synoptic Meteorology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Physical and Biogeochemical Oceanography,
and Upper Atmosphere and Space Physics.

Getty Villa Outing

Bridges High School students and faculty visited the Getty Villa in Malibu November 2. For history and art students, the visit was part of Bridges' integrated curriculum.

Outdoor Education at Catalina

8th graders ventured to Catalina Island October 28-30 for their Outdoor education program. The program is conducted by Catalina Environmental Leadership Program (CELP). Founded by Jacques Cousteau's son Michael, CELP teaches the principles of sustainability through “up close and personal” adventures. Activities included both day and night snorkeling, kayaking, star gazing and hiking through diverse geological formations and ecosystems. Part of CELP’s commitment is to model sustainability, so all CELP campers participate in composting every bit of waste from their meals and observe the effects of the composting in the productive organic garden that the staff maintains.

 

 

Middle School Begins Enrichment Clusters

The Bridges Academy Middle School has started six Enrichment Clusters designed around student talents and interests. Students in the Medieval Times group are exploring military manuevers, manuscripts, and machines. The Photography group plans to work in the California State University Northridge (CSUN) Center for Images and Media, researching the largest collection of African-American photo journalists in the country. Members of the Set Design group are at work generating designs and painting flats for three upcoming high school productions. Chess and Game Theory group members are learning new games and honing their skill in cards and chess. Future Problem Solvers are exploring ways that humans will cope with burgeoning sensory stimulation in the 21st Century. The Drama Troupe is building toward a dramatic competition in the Spring 2010. The Clusters meet six times this Fall on Wednesdays when the Middle School is not on a field trip.

Egyptian Guests

On Wednesday, Oct 21, Middle School students met representatives from Wildlife Encounters, a group that works with Mutual of Omaha’s Animal Kingdom to promote animal education and conservation.  Entitled Animals of Ancient Egypt, the assembly focused on the role that animals played in Egyptian life and culture. The speakers brought a diapered baby baboon; a Cervil Cat that could jump straight up from the floor to the table top in one graceful leap; an Egyptian cobra; a scorpion; and a Nile Crocodile among others.  Students listened to myths and tales about the animals and asked great questions at the assembly's end.  As with speakers in the past, the ones from Wildlife Encounters remarked on the knowledge of our students and their insightful questions.  The speakers explained that all of their animals are rescue animals and that in many cases, the species are now extinct even though at one time they were prolific in Egypt.

University of Southern California and Bridges Partnership

Bridges Academy has teamed with the University of Southern California to create the Certificate in the Education of Twice-Exceptional Students program. The new certificate is designed for professionals who want to develop expertise in understanding this unique population and learn the skills to provide 2e students the appropriate academic, social and emotional support. The program was created by Dr. Susan Baum, Bridges’ Director of Professional Development, and Dr. Sandra Kaplan, Associated Clinical Professor of Learning & Instruction at USC. Details about this year's schedule will be forthcoming. To learn more, click here. (To receive information, please call Bridges Academy). To register online click here.

A New Holiday Tradition

The cafeteria was converted into a Holiday Boutique December 2, an event so successful, it will become an annual tradition at Bridges. Fourteen vendors displayed their wares including art work, photography, clothing and accessories and exotic foods. There was a raffle and refreshments were provided for attendees including Bridges families and parents from Carpenter Elementary and the surrounding neighborhood.

Bridges Alum On The Go

Jordan Barlam (Class of 2009) is doing a gap year program in Japan before enrolling at UC Berkeley. Jordan was a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Griffin Dean (Class of 2008) put his graphics arts skills to use by designing this year's Bridges Academy Annual Report. Sam Jones (Class of 2005) and Ethan Braun (a former Bridges student) have formed a musical trio with Wyatt Keusch which debuted at the Fowler Museum at UCLA last Spring. Sam is a guitarist and student at USC and Ethan is a pianist/composer enrolled at UCLA. Michael Beer (Class of 2005) spent his sophomore year at Fukakusa College (near Kyoto, Japan). He is enrolled at California State University-Northridge to complete his undergraduate studies. Charles Jones (Class of 2005) and his band "The Actual Proof" had another summer tour, including a stop at the Whiskey in L.A. Charles is attending the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Greg Finkelstein (Class of 2004) is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Geosciences at Princeton. David Lorant (Class of 2006) is a busy man on the University of California San Diego campus. In addition to his academic load, he is president of the Role Playing Club, co-president of the Animae Club, and treasurer of the Science Fiction Library.

The Spirit of Giving

Bridges is wrapping up it's Community Chest efforts this year with its project for Pet Orphans of Southern California (POSC). POSC is a non-profit organization that for more than 30 years has been dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating adoptable homeless dogs and cats, providing them with exceptional care and carefully matching them with suitable adoptive families. They also offer medical and financial, spay/neuter and training assistance services in an effort to encourage responsible pet ownership and reduce abandonment.