• Attendance:

    Report  absences, late check-ins, or future absences to Ally Symons asymons@pps.net or leave a message on the attendance line.

    *If you are picking up your student early, please give the office an extra 10 mins to locate your student. The office will call your students from class when you arrive at the building.  The early pick up cut off is 30 minutes before end of day.  

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Bridger Creative Science School

Encouraging students to be independent
thinkers, learners, and problem solvers

7910 SE MarketPortland, OR 97215Ph (503) 916-6431Fx (503) 916-2612

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The BCSS Community Newsletter

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  • Bridger Creative Science Weekly Update

    Happy Thursday, BCSS! 🌟

    No school tomorrow — enjoy the long weekend!

    Our middle schoolers have been having a blast in PE playing pickleball and even inventing new games using their pickleball skills! 🏓 It’s been awesome to see their creativity and teamwork in action.

    A huge thank you to everyone who biked, walked, and rolled to school this morning — what a joyful way to start the day! 🚲🛴🛹

    Fun Run Update: Donations are still being accepted! Every bit supports our students and school community. 💙

    And as always, we love our volunteers! 💫 Joining us for lunch and recess is a great way to:
    ⭐ connect with kids in a fun, low-pressure setting
    ⭐ help build positive community and safe play spaces
    ⭐ support active supervision while getting to know our amazing students
    ⭐ bring a friendly face to the playground and cafeteria!
    If you have a little time, we’d love to have you join us!

    Coming up:
    📅 October 14 – Staff Meeting; all students released at 3:15
    📸 October 15 – Picture Retakes + Group Picture Day
    🎨 October 21 – BIPOC Affinity Night, 5:30–7:00 (light snacks, crafts, games, and books!)
    📚 October 23 – Site Council, 5:30–6:30 in the BCSS Library — new members welcome!
    🎃 October 24 – Fall Ball! Games, music, and treats for all!


    October’s SPAACE Value of the Month: Purpose 🌠
    At BCSS, Purpose means knowing why we do what we do — and connecting our actions to something bigger. When we act with purpose, we take care of ourselves, each other, and our community. It helps us stay focused, work together, and remember that every choice we make shapes the world we’re building together.


    With love and purpose,
    💫 Tarehna

  • Bridger Creative Science Weekly Update

  • Bridger Creative Science Newsletter 09/19/2025

Principal's
Message

  • Hi there, Tarehna WickerI'm Tarehna Wicker, and I’m thrilled to be the Principal of Bridger Creative Science School (BCSS). When I’m not at school, you’ll likely find me playing drums and singing in a band with my husband, Brandon, and two other PPS teachers. Music is a big part of our lives, and so is gaming—our family, including our two amazing kids, Clara and Luna, loves playing Dungeons & Dragons together and just about any game we can get our hands on.

    As someone who is neurodivergent, I’ve always had a deep connection with students who have learning differences. This perspective shapes how I approach education and strengthens my commitment to making sure that every student feels seen, supported, and celebrated. I believe in creating a school environment where all students, regardless of background, can thrive and where equity is at the forefront of everything we do.

    Before stepping into the role of Principal, I taught nearly every subject in K-8 schools, which gave me a well-rounded understanding of what our students need to succeed. Now, as an administrator, I’m focused on eliminating the racial predictability of educational and social-emotional outcomes, ensuring that every student feels welcome, happy, and proud of who they are during their time with us.

    I’m so excited to be part of the BCSS community, and I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you!


     
    Constructivism is the idea that meaningful knowledge is actively constructed rather than passively absorbed. 

     

    In a constructivist classroom, students are asked questions and invited to use what they already know to construct new ideas (creative) then test those ideas in context (science) in order to arrive at answers through experience and critical thinking. 

     

    At  Bridger Creative Science School, teachers guide students through this practice of inquiry and discovery to promote curiosity, confidence, and connection— toward learning, toward themselves and each other, toward community— so that students may use these tools throughout their education and into adulthood.

     

     

District News

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  • Two Lincoln High School Grads Win National Merit Scholarships

    Congratulations to Lincoln High School students Richard Deng and Coral Platt! Both were awarded National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 toward their college studies.

    They were chosen from more than 15,000 finalists nationwide. Richard plans to pursue a career in politics and Coral is looking at a future in the legal sector.

  • Two PPS Educators Named OnPoint Educators of the Year

    Two exceptional PPS educators, Ricardo Barber and Hang Jones, were recently named OnPoint Educators of the Year for 2025.

    As part of this prestigious honor, both teachers will have their rent or mortgage paid for an entire year, and their schools also receive a $2,500 donation. 

    Ricardo Barber teaches third grade at Faubion, and Hang Jones serves as a social worker at Marysville Elementary. 

    The OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education celebrates educators who embrace innovative teaching techniques that ignite enthusiasm in their students. 

    Congratulations to Ricardo Barber and Hang Jones! And thank you both for everything you do to make a difference in the lives our students.

  • Student Filmmakers Showcase Their Monster Talent

    The assignment their teacher gave them was simple – make a short film that begins with a phone call and ends with someone hanging up. Benson first-year students Dylan Martinez-Torres and Dariel Soriano Zamora ran it all the way to a small city populated by two very big and rather iconic monsters – Godzilla and Hedora.

    The result, Sorry, Wrong Number, is one of the more than 90 films entered into the annual Best of PPS Film Festival. The festival is a celebration of exceptional student filmmaking that includes a showcase at the historic Hollywood Theatre. 

    The fourth annual installment of the festival took place on May 21 and included a screening of 13 standout films. The films came from all over PPS and ran the gamut from Dylan and Dariel’s monster short to documentaries, film noir, and broadcast journalism. 

    Read More
  • Join the Climate Crisis Response Committee

    If you are a passionate student or community member that wants to make a difference at PPS, apply to join the Climate Crisis Response Committee! This is a committee that reports to the PPS Board of Education.

    On the committee you will learn about how PPS is making progress towards our climate justice and sustainability policies, provide input and recommendations to the PPS Board on how to better support PPS staff as we advance these policy goals, and connect with other passionate members of our PPS community from diverse backgrounds, knowledge areas, and lived experiences.

    No previous professional experience in climate change or sustainability required! Students can apply via this form. Community members can apply here.

    Deadline to apply: June 6. 

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