Dear Bridlemile Staff, Students, and Community,
As I reflect on all that this year has been, I am truly grateful to have learned so much, matured so much, met so many wonderful people and most of all I have become a better person because of my time spent with this community.
We have endured so many things together and have traveled through some rough terrain, yet what has helped us to get through everything that this year has thrown at us is we did it together.
We were not perfect and there was not always agreement or 100% happiness all of the time, but so is this journey through life. Whenever I asked my grandfather how he was doing, he would always say, "I'm doing the best I can with what I got!" and this statement will always live with me. As a community we struggled through this year at times but I am so encouraged by knowing and witnessing that the Bridlemile community, as a whole, did the best that we could with what we had.
Seeing the smiles on students' faces each day as they were engaged in learning was so refreshing and gave strength and hope to many. Even during such difficult times, we could see an impact was being made in the lives of students.
I commend the staff, the students and the community for enduring the struggles, the disappointments and frustrations, and for staying committed, passionate and dedicated to the common goal of providing the best that we could for this community.
Congratulations to our 5th graders who will be transitioning on to the next phase of their educational pursuit and to our Kindergartners who will be transitioning into the 1st grade. I would also like to congratulate our current 1st through 4th grade students for making it through this difficult year and moving on to the next step in their educational ladder.
I have attached some pictures that highlight some of this 2020-21 school year and a Fantastic Video that highlights some of our students and their thoughts on Racial Equity and Social Justice. I hope that you can appreciate them as much as I do because I truly believe that our students, staff and community are special.
Thank you all for a great year, even amidst the circumstances, and I look forward to what this next school year will bring. I wish you all a great summer and hope that you can reflect on all the good things that we have accomplished as a community during this 2020-21 school year.
Sincerely,
Jerome Townsend- Principal
Bridlemile Elementary
jtownsend@pps.net
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Greetings Bridlemile Community,
I am both excited and honored to have been selected as your principal for this 2020-21 school year. It has been such a pleasure meeting staff, students, families and stakeholders of this great community.
As we embark upon this school year, there are many challenges that we face with our country being in a declared pandemic with Covid-19 as well as a state of racial equity and social justice tension that has brought attention to the division of our country.
Although these challenges exist, I am confident that the Bridlemile community will stand strong and resilient as we all come together to do what is necessary as it comes to the education of our youth, even in this comprehensive distance learning environment.
We all share a common goal and responsibility to both teach and be examples of what it means to be racially equitable and diverse in our thoughts, actions and beliefs. The success of our community depends on it and we must be willing to do all that we can to ensure that it remains a reality.
Already, I have witnessed this community come together in ways that I couldn't have imagined in showing acts of love. I have witnessed a staff that has the ability to press through these trying times and give everything that they have to provide the best possible education to their students. I have witnessed an unwavering excitement about this school year from the wonderful students of Bridlemile Elementary.
So I write this message to you Bridlemile with the affirmed belief that no matter what challenges we face, no matter what difficulties are before us, together we can do anything, together we will succeed and together we will grow.
Throughout this year, always remember to Smile Bridlemile!
Sincerely,
Your Principal- Jerome Townsend
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Bridlemile Philosophy and Core Values
The Bridlemile philosophy supports the fact that each student has a right to develop to his/her fullest potential. Helping each child become a participating and contributing member of the school, community, and world is our Number 1 goal. It is our responsibility to create a nurturing, positive school climate that promotes self-confidence and positive self-esteem. The learning environment at Bridlemile strives to meet the student's intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth patterns using high academic and behavioral expectations coupled with a sensitivity to each child's unique needs and learning style. Through cooperative support of the staff, the teachers, and the parents, we expect each child to reach his/her maximum potential by embracing our core values.
Bridlemile core values:
- Community - Caring about other people in a group
- Diversity - The inclusion and celebration of all people
- Integrity - Quality of being honest and fair
- Kindness - A gentle nature and a desire to help others
- Knowledge - Information, understanding or skill
Our core program includes:
- Music with a Music Specialist two times each week plus an optional band program for fifth graders and a strings program for third, fourth, and fifth graders
- Music programs for K/1, 2/3, 4/5, and Band/Strings
- Library with a Media Specialist/Teacher Librarian once a week
- Technology with a Technology Teacher Specialist 50 minutes a week
- Physical Education with a PE Specialist three times per week
- Art with classroom teachers and professional artists through the Artist in Residency program
