The Woodside Priory chapter of the Peninsula Bridge Program began this week with a class of 60 rising eight graders. The kids arrived bright and early on the bus Monday morning and the enthusiasm they brought hasn't dulled in the slightest throughout the week.
One of the English teachers, Kindra Briggs, says about the students, "They have a lot of energy, a little bit of sass, and generally they seem pretty excited."
Their excitement is only matched by the eagerness of the teachers and the TA's, whether it's Elena Long leading the morning cheer, or philosophy teacher Mathew Nelson leading his class in an exercise in identity by peeling lemons.
This week has been a week of beginnings for everyone involved in the Bridge Program. On Monday the kids were given their initial evaluations in Math and English to determine their strengths and weaknesses so that the teachers and TA's know how to help them throughout the summer. In addition to academics, the students also get aquainted with the Priory's exciting new afternoon REC, or elective, program. Each Peninsula Bridge site has their own unique electives, and Priory is excited about ours.
Algebra teacher Laura Trudelle says about the REC program, "I saw a lot of times last year that a lot of girls just didn't get involved and I think...way more girls can get involved and everyone can get involved in what they're interested in."
There are six different electives for REC this year: PE, Fashion, Retreat and Team Building, Women's Mentoring, Drama, and Construction and Design. Laurel, the TA who is teaching the Drama elective, says that she wants to, "give the kids a chance to build character and improve confidence." This is the overall goal of all the electives, whether it's the Woman's Mentoring group allowing young girls to talk about issues that surround becoming young women, or the PE elective giving the kids the opportunity to feed their passion for sports (and perhaps play off some of the World Cup fever).
The program has taken off with promising results, and everyone involved expresses hope for a wonderful summer. All the staff hopes for the best possible experience for the kids. Kindra Briggs says, "My expectations for the program are that the students will stay engaged and that hopefully we'll have a good time so that they are excited about growing as learners and students, and in turn people. "
The 2010 Bridge student body has given a very good first impression, and has left the staff with a sense of excitement and hope for the future of Bridge. All of those at Bridge have embodied one of the Priory's oldest sayings, 'Always we begin again.'