What you need to know this week ...
- Our office needs immunization forms for all new students and any students who have an updated immunization record.
- We've included some carpool line reminders to keep everyone moving and safe.
- Author Jonathan Miller visiting on August 29.
- A workshop on Middle school admissions will be held on August 31 for 5th grade parents.
- Registration for after school classes, sports and extra offerings are due by August 31. Flag football registration is now closed.
- Parents' Night will be on Thursday, August 31.
- Splash Day is Friday, September 1.
- Special program for parents on navigating the challenges of social media will be on September 14.
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Immunization Records are Still Needed
If your child has received any additional vaccines, please send an updated immunization form to the school nurse. Children entering kindergarten are required to have additional vaccines. All new students are required to submit an immunization record.
Flavored Water Packets
Gatorade and flavored water packets for water bottles are not allowed during school hours unless the student has a medical need that has been approved by Nurse Kristy.
Carline Reminders
It always helps to arrive early and beat the rush! Early morning care is available for all students from 7:15 a.m.-7:45 a.m. as a courtesy to our families. Please drop off students at the concourse area for early morning care. School begins at 8 a.m. Classrooms open at 7:45 a.m. Please see this diagram for the morning car line route. Early childhood grades (JPK-K) follow the yellow arrows on the diagram and then merge into the other car line near the library. Please make sure your child is ready to get out of the car when the car stops. This helps keep the car line moving. Students should get in and out of the car on the sidewalk side of the car (not the parking lot side) for their safety.
For JPK and PK families in the morning car line, here are some tips to help make the line go quicker:
- Unbuckle your child's car seat while waiting and before you stop to let out.
- Put your child's bag in the front seat so the assistant can get it after opening the back door.
- Parents should remain in the car.
- If your child needs additional time, please proceed to a parking spot to either walk your child in or circle around and re-enter the carpool traffic lane.
Afternoon Car Line
Grades JPK and PK dismiss at the concourse at 1 p.m. and older grades dismiss at 3 p.m. Please put your green car line sign on your dashboard to help keep the line moving . Please see this diagram for the afternoon car line route. The name caller will tell you which station your child will be waiting at. Other reminders:
- If you need to buckle your child into their car seat, please pull up to or past white columns to get out of the car and assist your child. This will allow the rest of the line to keep moving.
- Keep the green name sign on the dashboard until your child is in the car with you.
Please be courteous in the car lines. Remain behind the vehicle in front of you for the safety of everyone. Obey the instructions of the traffic officers on Hixson Pike. It is a dangerous job! When they are called away for other police duties and not present, please be extra patient and cautious.
Reserved Parking Spaces
The reserved parking spaces in our lot were purchased by families during the auction. These spaces are reserved at all times, even during non-school hours. Please do not park in these spaces.
Middle School Admissions Workshop on August 31
Fifth grade parents are invited to learn about the middle school admissions process. Please join Assistant Head of School Renee' Kropff on Thursday, August 31, at 8:15 a.m. in the library. Learn about how the process works and how Bright School supports students and parents through the process.
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Extra Activities Registration
Sign up for after school activities, sports, handbells and choir is due on August 31.
Please follow the links below to register for:
All other registration will be completed through CampBrain at this link. You will need to begin by creating an account under New User Sign-Up. Instructions for how to register are available here.
Everyday Etiquette for grades 3-5 with Dawn Jumper: Activities, games and interactive learning make this class engaging and fun. We focus on good manners, self-confidence, and consideration for others.
Fee: $110 which includes all lessons, an after school snack, take home materials, and a certificate of completion.
Pre-season soccer clinic for grades 3-5 with Coach Linehart
This will be a 4 session soccer camp/clinic at Bright School. All students are welcomed (even if they don't plan to play soccer for Bright in the fall season!). Each session will be designed to be fun and instructional and develop key foundational skills that form the building blocks for all developing soccer players.
Personal Training with James Eliezer
He is offering packages of sessions that can be used for the whole family. For example, you can purchase a package of 20 sessions that can be divided for your student to engage in a small group soccer clinic while you use some of the sessions to attend our adult fitness class! The adult fitness class is open to parents of Bright School students or faculty and staff of Bright School.
Soccer Clinic and Running Clinic will be offered to 3rd-5th grade students.
Book Club Sign-Up Available
The Bright School Library is excited to announce we are offering a variety of book clubs for grades 1-5 in the 2023-2024 School Year. Each grade level will have one book club in the first half of the year and one book club in the second half of the year. To register, use the SignUp Genius and submit your payment to reserve a spot. The month’s book will be delivered to registered students on the first of their book club month. Participants have until the book club meeting day to read the book before enjoying a special meet-up activity and treat. We hope you will join us! Cost: $50 (includes a copy of the book, a special treat, and a book specific activity on the meet-up day) Sign-up at this link.
Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Troop 40473 invites parents and girls to learn about our upcoming year Tuesday, August 29, at the Peeples Pavilion, from 8:00-8:30 a.m. for parents and 3:00-3:45 p.m. for parents and girls.
Interested parents who are not able to attend are welcome to contact Troop Leader Melanie Boyle at 423-432-2338 or melanie1422@icloud.com.
Parent Handbook
All families should have received a printed copy of our updated Parent Handbook. We want to call your attention to the revised Responsible Use Policy:
Smartwatches and cell phones are increasing in popularity with a growing number of students wearing or bringing one to school. Student smartwatches and cell phones are not permitted at school. Due to family situations, you may have the need for your child to have a smartwatch or cell phone due to after-school activities, but during the school day (which includes any time during Bright Afternoons), this device must be turned off and kept in the child's backpack.
Car Decals
All families will need to have our car decals displayed on the outside widow in the bottom corner on the driver's side. This decal will be used by our security officer to identify Bright School families driving on campus. Each family will be given two decals. If you have any questions about decals, please email Renee' Kropff.
Splash Day
On Friday, September 1 during your child’s PE class time, we will be kicking off our annual Bright Fund with Splash Day for our students as a THANK YOU to all our families who generously support our Bright Fund each year. It’s an exciting and fun time for the kids as we celebrate coming together as a community to support our school. Our plan is to have sprinklers, giant inflatable water slides, water toys, and bubbles on the GMAC Track Field.
- This is a free dress day, but please have your child wear his or her bathing suit under their clothing. When students come to P.E. they will take off their clothes and be ready for class.
- One-piece bathing suits and tankinis for girls are strongly recommended. Your child may want to bring water shoes/Chacos to protect their feet on the turf and track.
- After P.E. class, they will go to their designated classrooms to dry off and put on their clean undergarments and clothes. Classroom teachers will make provisions for children who may be sensitive to group dressing.
- Each child will need to bring a towel labeled with his or her name and some type of waterproof bag for wet clothes. It is important that you label the bathing suit, clothes, towels, wet bag and change of undergarments, allowing everyone to easily find their own clothes for changing.
- We recommend parents apply sunscreen to children before arriving at school. Please send sunscreen with your child as well. Swim shirts and rash guards are another great layer of protection.
- Please make sure your child has a water bottle marked with their name. It will be a HOT day and we need to make sure our kiddos are hydrated and safe!
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Parents' Association
The Bright School Parents' Association (PA) is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to cultivating a sense of community at Bright School. Community building, clear communication, and fundraising are priorities of the PA.
If you would like information about how to volunteer with the PA, please contact Ginger Thomas.
Used Uniform Sales for the Year
Mark your calendar for these dates.
October 2, 2:30 - 4 p.m.
November 6, 2:30 - 4 p.m.
December 4, 2:30 - 4 p.m.
February 5, 2:30 - 4 p.m.
March 4, 2:30 - 4 p.m.
May 2, 5 - 7:30 p.m. (Blowout sale during open house)
Lands' End Uniform Sale
Retailer Lands' End will be offering 20% off uniforms during their sale August 31 through September 4. Go to landsend.com/myschool and search for Bright School. Use code PLAY and pin 4599 to receive your discount. A portion of the sales will come back to the Parents' Association.
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Author Jonathan Miller to Visit
Jonathan Miller, author and illustrator of the children's book series The Adventures of Sammy the Wonder Dachshund, will be visiting Bright School on Tuesday, August 29. Sammy‘s Family Tree Vol. 1, Sammy in Space, Sammy on Safari, and Sammy's Last Week in Charleston star a daring dog who works as a fact-checker for the Internet. Miller created each illustration by cutting and layering construction paper in a process that can take 30 hours per page!
Order forms to purchase a copy of Jonathan Miller's book were sent home Monday, August 21 in K-5 classrooms and should be returned by August 29th at the latest. If you have any questions about ordering books, please email Ms. Henn ( ehenn@brightschool.com).
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Parents' Night
Schedule:
Grades JPK-1st: 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Math Academy (grades 4 and 5): 5:45-6:15 p.m. in Mrs. Waddell's fourth grade classroom
All School Assembly/Meeting 6:15-6:30 p.m. in the Theater
Grades 2-5: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Parking will be on campus. We encourage parents to arrive in one vehicle as parking is limited on campus. The school will run shuttles from Stuart Height Baptist Church if needed. Parking attendants will be on hand to direct traffic and parking.
- Shuttles will run once campus is full. If attending the second session, please arrive early to account for shuttle run
- Parking attendants on duty to direct traffic. Follow instructions
- No parking along the driveway outside the campus entrance or on Minnekhada Drive. Vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.
NEW: There will also be a used book sale in the library during Parents' Night. All proceeds will go towards maintaining our amazing Bright School book collection. Please stop by the library that evening.
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The Social Institute: A Program for Parents
In collaboration with St. Peter's School and Brainerd Baptist School, we are excited to offer a seminar for parents about navigating the challenges of social media and technology. This seminar aims to equip parents with proactive tools to empower children in embracing a healthy and high-character approach to the digital world. Instead of resorting to fear and restrictions, we invite you to join us for a refreshing and practical presentation on parenting in the digital age.
Leading this discussion will be Laura Tierney, the esteemed Founder, and CEO of The Social Institute, a recognized leader in the field with a national presence. Together, we will engage in an interactive exploration of innovative strategies to foster positive social media and tech usage for our children, flipping the script on the common challenges faced in this digital era.
Mark your calendars for this special event.
Date: Thursday, September 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Where: Calvary Chapel, 3415 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37409
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Important Links and Calendar
Calendar - Download the 2023-2024 Calendar HERE
The library schedule for each class is posted HERE
August 31
Middle School Admission Process for 5th grade families, 8:15 a.m.
Parents' Night, 5:30 p.m.
September 1
Splash Day, free dress day for all students
September 4
Labor Day, no school
September 5
After school classes begin
September 8
Bright School t-shirt day, Bright Breakfast from 7-7:45 a.m., Bookstore open 7:30-8:30 a.m.
September 14
The Social Institute program for parents, 6 p.m.
September 20
Individual photos with Lifetouch
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A Healthy Ecosystem
Last week, 5th grade students began clearing weeds and invasive species from the pond area behind Mrs. Hughes' classroom. They are making way for more friendly native species to be planted. The native plants will help local pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are essential for a healthy ecosystem.
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