Healing the Hurt

Hello Everyone!  This is the second block of Ms. Angela’s language arts class, which consists of Anthony, Shawn, Chris, Jesse, Crystal, Juana, George and Justin.  We are sitting in class discussing the book Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen, and have decided to share with the world its wonders of helping people understand how to control their emotions.  Cole who is the main character of the book is emotionally and mentally hurt from being physically abused by his father.  Cole is convicted of a felony assault because he did not know how to control his anger and his only knowledge of dealing with anger is by throwing fists.  This book has helped this entire class deal with their anger in many different ways, and made the class have a reality check on real life.  Isolation of six months on an island has helped Cole realize his mistakes and he has forgiven himself for making those mistakes.  The class as a whole has learned that forgiveness is the key to friendship and healing the hurt.  We strongly recommend this book to everyone because it is such an interesting book.

 

“‘Atta boys,” ‘Guys and Dolls’, and the Wall

Something wonderful happened today at Bridges.  So many of you got to live it with me…it was fun, it was touching, it was important…Did you sit with me with a kid and feel “Wow!  I am so lucky to have been here for this moment!!!!  Is this kid really saying what I think he is saying????!!!!!”

Or did we giggle and sing a song about the quadratic formula?  Come on…’fess up…you really were singing in my office…(Smile)

You are so right…it is sometimes hard to catch your breath at Bridges, isn’t it?  Good thing you don’t mind going for the coffee.  It takes energy to be what these kids need ALL of the TIME, doesn’t it????But you do it so well, all of you.  Maybe you are the smile waiting for me in the morning, unlocking the door…”I don’t want to bother you but we have things to sign…(another smile).”

We are a real school!  I have to sign those things to keep us going…but we both know where I really want to be, don’t we?  I am already itching to get to the kids.  How did it go?  I’ve been gone…and you guys just carried on!!!!!!  What could be better?  You all took care of each other AND the kids!  See!  I am so right!  You are the best!

My best moment of the day happened in Mr. Miller’s class.  It was like watching my vision in Technicolor!  The sixth grade social studies boys held a political debate….there in the moderator’s chair was Corey!  He was incredible in his role as the young Peter Jennings.  Wes, you amazed me with your responses to the questions.  The Republican Party would be very proud of you.  And Eric…you were the quintessential Democrat!  Trey, I missed your answers, but I heard they were incredible!  You all looked so handsome.  The best part was that everyone…you, too, Jonathan, did exactly what you were supposed to do.  I know Ms Doreen and Mr. Miller were so proud of you.  I wanted the Superintendent to see you!  That time I spent watching your debate was like seeing my dream blossom into reality.

Lot’s of times I call my staff “Guys and Dolls”.  I do it because I loved the play and I love the team.  It is a term of endearment.  Lately I have been thinking about them so much.  I want to reach out to each one and say, “Great job!  You made it.  Every child we kept in school today was a victory.  Each situation you managed to control on your own was a win for the good guys (and gals).  We aren’t perfect…but we are so much better than most.  I would not mind having my child here and that says it all.

Go SeaWolves!

And what about that wall I mentioned?  Well, we all hit it sometimes.  We hit it when we have used all of our resources and nothing is working.  We hit it when we are being human…maybe sick…worried…tired.  The thing about walls is that at Bridges we are a team and when someone hits the wall, we all gather around to help them over it!

 

Anger

Good evening, children of the world.  This is Nathan, Mitchell, Corey, Shane, Frankie, Miss Angela, Shelby, JB, and Brandon.  We are here discussing the book, Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen.  Our title, Anger,is because the book is mostly about dealing and facing your anger.  This is a good book to talk about anger because if you don’t deal with anger in the right way, you can express it in an unacceptable way.  The main character, Cole, actually hurts himself by hurting someone else.  Cole has to face many obstacles in his stay on an island he got sentenced to by a Circle of Justice.

We would strongly recommend choosing this book because it is a quick read and it is interesting.  It is so spectacular that you will hate to have to put it down.  When you read this book you will learn how to deal with bad situations in life.  Touching Spirit Bear is such an astonishing book that you can’t go one more day without reading it!

 

Letter to Team Bridges

I am doing lots of reading about adolescent brain development.  Please join me.  Here is another link I want you to check out:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/interviews/todd.html

…and here is my biggest challenge to us as a team:  (I am quoting Steve Jobs because I can’t say it any better than he did)

I believe with all of my heart that we are a group of leaders, genius leaders in fact, who are going to “…make a dent on the universe…”  There is no group stonger, smarter, or better equipped…to do what we are doing and truly make a difference.  However, we can only do it if we do it as a group.  No ONE among us is as smart and as capable as ALL of us together.  I hired most of you…and rehired the rest…and I  know that we are the right group at the right time to do something incredible with our school.  I want a name for our group…I want our own culture and traditions…I want all of us to put our collective genius together and make that dent in the universe.  It is our destiny right now at this particular point in time…to do what no other group can…to reach the toughest, most battered kids in our county…and to change their worlds.  The consequences of that will last well beyond any of our lives.  What we do today and every day with each one of them will be our legacy.

Be in the group.  Look for the genius in every one on our team.  Be there for each other.  We will accomplish this together or not at all…and help me to help you…tell me what you need…If you want help with classroom management, don’t be afraid to say that.  Think of what you need to do to reach your greatest potential as an educator and we will try to help you find the right tools.  There is no shame in knowing your own needs.  There is only weakness in being afraid to confront them.

Will you join me in this mission?  Let’s make our own dent in the universe.  Who knows?

The next Steve Jobs may be one of our kids.
Vicki  

 

Justin Speaks

Bridges Middle Alternative School is an excellent place.  I have changed since I have enrolled here.  Before I went to MMS and my grades were poor and my attitude was poor and as well my friendships were poor.  And then I came here and I did a total 180.  My grades have picked up…my attitude is better…and I have made better choices.

Bridges Middle is not just a place to learn…it is a place to have fun and make friendships.  The teachers and the Principal respect us, but in order for us to get respect, we give respect.  The teachers and the Principal have our students under control.  The students are respectful to our peers and our guests as well as the adults.  Before this was just a program, but now it is a fun learning place to be…a school that I want to come to every day!  It is not just a place that I want to blow away…and that is the speech of Justin D.

 

Michael Speaks

Bridges Alternative School is a great school for kids.  The teachers and the staff are fun.  They are able to teach you in ways that other teachers are not because they are fun and they are really about the kids.  I like the “Smart Boards” and technology.

I was just elected Student Council President.  It’s going to be a big task but I think I can handle it with the teachers’ help.  It’s something new for me and exciting, but I think I can handle it.  That’s about it.

MS

 

Starting All Over Again

They come to Bridges as shell-shocked youngsters…weary from the stress of trying to make their ways in a world that doesn’t fit them…kids on the defense…ready for the next punch life will throw at them.  School…the enormous test of childhood…has not worked out for my children…they don’t understand why…

We have to help them move past the sense of failure that often accompanies placement in an alternative setting.  We have to find a way to help our children experience quick success in  some aspect of school.  The first step may be as simple as helping them talk quickly and honestly about what went wrong…and what we can do to help them turn it around…we have to help them know they are “…starting all over again…and it’s gonna be tough…but we’re gonna’ make it…”

It’s incredibly difficult sometimes.  If you are not working with kids because you are passionate about helping them, don’t come work in an alternative school.  You have to have the strength to help them overcome attitudes born from a lifetime of failure.  And at the moment my children first enroll at Bridges, they don’t have the personal strength to do it alone.  The first time I meet them I have to make them see the possibility of success.  And from that moment on, each child becomes a balancing act…a cautionary tale of the exact blend of discipline, love, management, and nurturing.  The recipes are never the same.

 

Trust

“Trust me.”

We say it so casually to kids.  Sure, we mean it, but can they always do it?  What a risk they take each time they dare to trust us!  Will we let them down?  Or will we somehow manage to keep the promises we imply when we say “Trust me.”?

“Trust” is a comforting word.  Think about it…we say “trust me” and we mean “Count on me.  I will be there for you when you need me.“  As adults we understand the fallacy of trust.  People we have trusted have died or have left us.  We have based our trust, at least sometimes, on purely emotional rationale.  We want to believe…we want to know that there is someone or something we can count on forever…

 Human beings have wanted to trust someone or something for a long, long time.  As early as 1200 a.d. the users of the Old Norse language began recording the use of the word traust.  They used the word to mean “help, or confidence”.  Around the same time, the Dutch word troost was recorded, meaning “comfort, or consolation”.  Other related ancient words are treowian, meaning “to believe, or trust” and treowe, meaning “faithful, or true”. 

Have confidence in me…you can believe in me…I will be faithful in my promise to comfort and help you…Trust me.

Joe began his talking circles with the topic of trust.  Who would think such a simple word could inspire tremendous passion and emotion in a group of “disconnected” children?  With their responses to the discussion, we were given a true picture of what it really means to ask a child to simply “Trust me.”  Those kids understood all of the complex nuances of the simple little word.  And understanding the risks, they answered the question sincerely…from the heart…

“What is trust?” Joe asked those students…and the answers flowed.

…And we learned from them.  If we are going to dare to tell them to rely on our integrity, our strength, our ability to help them…if we are going to give our children a “confident expectation” of us…then we must accept enormous responsibility…we must be trustworthy.   

 

Ron and Chris Speak

The way to solve your differences is to talk it out and not to fight, but to unite.  Come to a point to where you can meet each other and talk to each other face to face,  and try to solve it then, so things don’t escalate to a physical level.

 

Cas Speaks

We are family.  This is a great place for a second chance.

I came to be here because my grades were bad.  And I am doing better because I am in a less environment of children.  And the teachers are great!

I came here in seventh grade and I think I was smart and my behavior started to get good and my Principal, Mrs. Fritz, moved me to the eighth.  I can’t wait to get through ninth!

At my other school I would have started at bad grades this year because I would be in a group of 30  kids and after I get done with my work I would just sit there and I like to play.  When I play my teacher would put me out or send me to Choices.  They don’t give you a second chance but this school does.  That is all I got to say!