èßäÊÓÆµ

Bridger Creative Science School

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

7910 SE Market?Portland, OR 97215?Ph (503) 916-6431?Fx (503) 916-2612

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The CSS Community Newsletter

Current Bridger CSS Information

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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 èßäÊÓÆµ, 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 èßäÊÓÆµ 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 èßäÊÓÆµ environment where all èßäÊÓÆµ, 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 èßäÊÓÆµs, which gave me a well-rounded understanding of what our èßäÊÓÆµ 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, èßäÊÓÆµ 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 èßäÊÓÆµ through this practice of inquiry and discovery to promote curiosity, confidence, and connection— toward learning, toward themselves and each other, toward community— so that èßäÊÓÆµ may use these tools throughout their education and into adulthood.

     

     

District News

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  • Join Us for the Closing Reception of The HeART of Portland

    The closing reception of the HeART of Portland is this Sunday (April 27) from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Portland Art Museum. This event is free and open to the public. 
     
    This special event will include collaborative art-making, performances and artist talks by Lincoln and Roosevelt high èßäÊÓÆµ èßäÊÓÆµ, the PPS Visual Arts Exhibition (representing 87 èßäÊÓÆµs), and interactive gallery experiences.
     
    Please join us as we cap off this joyful celebration of student creativity and artistic achievement!
     
    Photo credit: Nina Johnson Photography
  • HeART of Portland Returns to Portland Art Museum April 16th

     This is the poster for the Heart of Portland event

    HeART of Portland, the annual celebration of local student artists, is returning to the Portland Art Museum (PAM) beginning April 16.

    The two-week fine arts showcase features work by èßäÊÓÆµ from across èßäÊÓÆµ and is made possible by the Arts Access Fund, which also supports elementary visual and performing arts educators.

    kicks off with an opening reception at PAM on April 16 at 6:30 p.m. and concludes with the Miller Family Free Day on April 27. The opening reception will include musical and theatrical performances, as well as a set from the elementary èßäÊÓÆµ honor choir – made up of two singers from each PPS elementary – and the debut of the honor dance collective. 

    In addition, the showcase will feature more than 100 works of student visual art, handpicked by PPS arts educators, and a collaborative art project for K-12 èßäÊÓÆµ that embraces the rebellious spirit of the current PAM exhibition,  

    The reception and HeART of Portland exhibits are free and open to everyone. Please join us in lifting up our student artists!

  • Join Us for "The Ride Ahead"

    èßäÊÓÆµ is continuing to host a series of events aimed at starting productive conversations about what is possible in the systems we create for our children with disabilities.

    As part of this series, we are excited to welcome you to a free screening of  on Thursday March 20 at . Doors open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 7:00.

    The Ride Ahead is a film about adult life with disabilities by a man with disabilities. It is the debut of 21-year-old Samuel Habib who, struggling to find his place in the world, decides to make a film that charts how a group of disabled adults navigate challenges and forge their own unique paths. The film serves as a roadmap for himself and others and illustrates the compelling power of one person truly determined to live life on his own terms.

    In documenting his journey, Samuel is following in the footsteps of his father, the filmmaker Dan Habib. You can learn more about their work .

    Staff, families, and community members are all invited. Parking is free and McMenamins' full menu is available for ordering. We hope to see you there!

  • To Close or Not to Close? The Many Factors that Go into an Inclement Weather Decision

    In meteorological terms, Portland’s first big weather event of 2024 was the definition of a perfect storm. Frigid temperatures and high winds combined with snow and ice to bring down tree limbs, close roads, scramble traffic, freeze pipes, and knock out power for tens of thousands of residents.

    It was a metaphorical perfect storm for èßäÊÓÆµ as well. Fallen trees cut power to multiple èßäÊÓÆµs and others have suffered water damage from broken pipes. Lack of heat was also a problem, and impassable roads, paired with snowed-in and icy parking lots, made it impossible for buses to run safely. Those same conditions limited how the district’s facilities and operations teams can even assess the scope of the issues, let alone begin working on solutions. And icy sidewalks meant walkers have no safe route to èßäÊÓÆµ.

    This week could bring similar conditions to the Portland area, and PPS’s School Closure Team is ready to meet the challenge. The team convenes regularly during inclement weather to take all of the above into careful consideration. By now, families are quite familiar with how the district communicates these decisions. What’s perhaps less known is how district leaders arrive at such decisions in the first place. 

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