Welcome to the first edition of Up & Coming, a monthly update to keep you informed about the 2e movement in Seattle and, of course, information about the new Bridges Academy Seattle. Each month you can expect information and surveys about our overall goals, site search, capital campaign, transportation, and admissions. We will also share a few fun curriculum ideas. Of course, nothing can happen without amazing people doing amazing work, so we will introduce you to all the major players.
Future editions of Up & Coming will, no doubt, highlight your children. There is a tremendous reward in seeing bright students finding their passion, recognizing their remarkable gifts, and developing their talents. One day your kids will be entrepreneurs or engineers, politicians or writers, coders or venture capitalists, astronauts or game designers -- the possibilities are endless. Wherever they are now in their journeys, they're definitely already members of the Up & Coming.
These are exciting times! I look forward to learning more about you and sharing the progress that is being made.
Best,
Carl Sabatino
Head of Schools
Bridges Education Group
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The Bridges Academy Admissions Committee stands ready to help you learn more about the Bridges approach and how to get ready to apply.
For those who don’t require the pre-admission process, we will announce the dates of our annual fall grade and division open houses in June. Our general cycle is provided below. We hope you can attend.
Admissions Calendar:
- Individual meetings -- arrange anytime you are ready
- Division and Grade meetings -- scheduled for September
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Pre-Admissions Consultations -- click here for the link
- Early application deadline: January 31 -- early decision space is limited
- Regular application are rolling -- admissions will be open until filled
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In February, Bridges Education Group signed up with Gary Guenther, a commercial real estate broker with Kidder Matthews, to conduct the search for Bridges Academy Seattle's future home. Our timeline is aggressive and the challenge is formidable.
Creating a great physical environment for 2e students is a complex undertaking. The myriad of activities that engage the hearts and minds of 2e students require indoor and outdoors spaces of every conceivable kind. Short of building the space from scratch, we will look at every possibility to find the space that best meets the needs of our students. How kids use space to learn and interact with each other is the most critical of all of our considerations. The search continues and until we find a great site nothing is ruled out.
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In June we will be talking a lot about outreach groups. The purpose of these groups is to reach out to psychologists, counsellors, pediatricians, community organizers, and leaders in communities of color to make them aware of the nature and needs of 2e students and our plans for Bridges 2e programs.
Of course there are other ways to get involved too. When the campus opens we will always be looking for volunteers, mentors, and interesting guest speakers.
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Well in the age of online learning and COVID… it’s actually a challenging and fun option. Routes with a PE pal makes it easy, and knowing your part of the group makes it social, fun and effective. Good looking trainers don’t hurt either. This is one of many examples of active and interactive online learning.
Geocaching with a friend while on Zoom with your class via phone and recording your experiences on your head cam can be fun too, for some. To each their own ... imagination is the only limit.
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Over the years we have heard from many students that they enjoy learning something practical - doing their taxes; or something useful to their social life - throwing a great party.
Humanities students interested in becoming future members of the Chaine des Rotisseurs were given an assignment to research, plan, prepare and present (all great skills) a unique five-course dinner. A “degustation” of the highest order (wine pairings were left to the parents). These future chefs could choose Asian, Russian, French, Italian, Icelandic, Ethiopian or Brazillian cuisine.
In addition to proper preparation and presentation, demonstrations of proper table settings and the finer points of service were all required. Students prepared these feasts for their COVID homebound family pods, recorded all aspects, and presented their research on the historical, cultural, ritualistic, nutritional and technical aspects of the prépation des repas to their Zoom classmates.
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Do you or any members of your family routinely use carpools?
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If yes, what is your primary reason for carpooling?
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Bridges has been around for 25 years and during those years we developed an innovative approach to engaging 2e learners. Now we are excited to share what we know with students and families in the Seattle area. Bridges Seattle is a new venture and, as with any new venture, we need to raise capital to fund immediate needs and secure the future.
We have retained The Ostara Group, a Seattle-based consulting firm, to help set our fundraising goals and guide our capital campaign. In meeting our goals, we can meet the needs of 2e students and their families now and in the future. More on the campaign soon. Success updates will be regular …
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We will be conducting virtual open houses in April for those interested in learning more about the plans for the school and program information. If you would like to attend, please click the link below that corresponds with the grade your child will be going into in the fall of 2022.
Dates and Links:
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Grades 4 through 8
Grades 9 through 12
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Wed., April 21 at 6 p.m.
Thurs., April 22 at 6 p.m.
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Each month we will highlight members of our team who are committed to the success of Bridges Seattle. Expect to see board members, projects leaders, capital campaign managers, teachers and administrators. Every member brings valuable experience, perspective, and passion to the team.
Ellen Rosen is the chair of the board and is the longest serving chair in our 25 year history. The continuity of her leadership is integral to Bridges' historical footprint, solving present-day challenges, and shaping the future of Bridges in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Ellen's Bio
Ellen Rosen is an attorney who received her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and earned her B.A. with honors in psychology at La Salle University in Philadelphia. She was associated with the law firm of Simke Chodos in Los Angeles where she practiced in commercial and business litigation. Prior to her tenure at Simke Chodos, she was associated with the firm of Lamb, Windle & McErlane in Pennsylvania and practiced in business, real estate, municipal and governmental law.
Ellen is married to Martin Rosen. They have three children, one of whom graduated in 2016 from Bridges Academy.
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Peter Godwin is on the Bridges Education Group Board and lives in Seattle. Peter is chairing the Site Search Committee.
Peter's Bio
Peter Godwin has served as an in-house and private practice attorney and consultant for public and private start-up technology and telecommunications ventures for more than 20 years. He received his J.D. with a specialization in International Legal Affairs from Cornell Law School and his M.A. in Social Science and B.A. in Economics from The University of Chicago.
Peter is married to Hilary Godwin, the Dean of and a professor in the University of Washington School of Public Health. Their son started at Bridges as a student in the Phoenix program and graduated in 2019.
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Head of Schools
Director of Admissions
Assistant Head, Director Bridges H.S. Online
Seattle Parent Coordinator
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